MIC Fest — Opera Heroines (Pieve di Sorano)

Opera Heroines, an evening dedicated to melodrama

"Opera Heroines" is a concert-recital celebrating the great female protagonists of Italian lyric theatre. The audience is taken on a journey through the grand tradition of melodrama, from the most beloved pages of Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini to the heroines of bel canto: tragic and passionate figures like Violetta, Mimì, Tosca, Norma, and Lucia, brought to life through voice and piano in an intimate dialogue between word and music.

The evening takes place in the evocative Pieve di Santo Stefano di Sorano, in the municipality of Filattiera, in the province of Massa-Carrara, the heart of the Tuscan Lunigiana. It is one of the highlights of MIC Fest XXIII — Music Encounters Culture, the major widespread festival with free admission that crosses four regions and eight provinces during the summer of 2026.

The Pieve di Sorano, a millennial stage

The setting is one of the most fascinating places in the Lunigiana. The Pieve di Santo Stefano di Sorano is an ancient Romanesque church built of river pebbles between the 11th and 12th centuries, along a stretch of the Via Francigena travelled for centuries by pilgrims heading to Rome. Its three naves divided by circular pillars, the sturdy bell tower resembling a watchtower, and the apses decorated with hanging arches create an acoustic and atmosphere ideal for live music. Following an extensive restoration completed in 2000, the parish church has regained its original appearance and is now a treasure trove of history, archaeology, and art (famous Lunigiana stele statues were also found in the vicinity).

Inside MIC Fest XXIII

In 2026, MIC Fest — Music Encounters Culture reaches its twenty-third edition: it is the new evolution of the historic "Musica in Castello" festival, conceived and directed by Enrico Grignaffini. It is a widespread festival that, from June 12 to September 11, 2026, offers 48 free events in 35 municipalities and 8 provinces across Emilia (Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Modena), Lombardy (Cremona, Mantua), Liguria (La Spezia), and Tuscany (Massa-Carrara, Lunigiana area), featuring dozens of Italian and international artists.

The programme weaves together classical music and jazz, theatre, literature, storytelling, dance, and civic engagement, with dedicated sections such as MIC Jazz, MIC Books, MIC Stories, and MIC Theatre. All performances are free to attend, with no booking or tickets required, and start at 9:30 PM: a formula that for over twenty years has brought the great repertoire to the villages, castles, and parish churches of the region.

Why it's worth it

• An opera recital in a place steeped in history and spirituality, far from the grand theatres.
• A chance to listen to Italian melodrama in an intimate, free setting.
• The opportunity to discover the Lunigiana and its villages in the heart of the Tuscan summer.