Note al Calasole
Classical music at sunset in the Tombolo Sud pine forest in Cecina
About Note al Calasole
A classical music festival among the pines of Tombolo Sud
Note al Calasole is the summer classical music festival of the Municipality of Cecina, in the province of Livorno, on the Tuscan Etruscan Coast. The name says it all: notes resonating at "calasole"—sunset—when the light turns warm and low through the maritime pines of the Tombolo Sud Nature Reserve. The setting is Piazzetta Calasole, a natural clearing just a stone's throw from the sea, accessible from the main gate on Viale Galliano. It is here, in the quiet of the pine forest and the scent of resin in the air, that the audience gathers to listen to masterpieces of the chamber and operatic repertoire.
A project by the Municipality of Cecina and the Mascagni Conservatory
The festival is the result of a collaboration between the Municipality of Cecina and the Pietro Mascagni Conservatory of Livorno, under the artistic direction of Federico Rovini and music critic Sandro Cappelletto. The project showcases young talents, conservatory ensembles, and established performers in a program ranging from chamber music to opera, from Piazzolla's tango to Puccini's arias, including special national premiere productions. The event is part of the wider cultural landscape of Tuscany, engaging with institutions such as the Mascagni Festival and the Terre Mascagnane, which celebrate the legacy of the Livorno-born composer Pietro Mascagni.
Music, nature, and sunset
What makes Note al Calasole a unique experience is the marriage of high art and the natural environment. Concerts begin at 7:00 PM, just as the sun starts to dip toward the horizon and the pine forest glows with orange hues. The audience is encouraged to bring a blanket to sit on the sand and a light jacket for the evening. Admission is completely free and open to all without reservation, subject to availability, making it a truly accessible event for both residents and tourists vacationing on the Livorno Riviera.
Cecina and the Etruscan Coast
Set in the territory of Cecina, on the Etruscan Coast in the province of Livorno, the festival is also an opportunity to discover one of Tuscany's most evocative nature reserves. The Tombolo Sud is a protected area of Mediterranean scrub and pine forest that separates the town from the coast: an environmental treasure that becomes, for a few summer evenings, an open-air concert hall. Note al Calasole reaffirms Cecina's vocation as a destination that masterfully weaves together seaside tourism, nature, and high-quality cultural offerings.
Note al Calasole — edition 2026
The second edition of Note al Calasole (2026) is even richer than the first: eight chamber music and opera concerts, plus a special national premiere event, spread over four consecutive weekends, every Friday and Saturday from June 19 to July 11. All concerts take place at 7:00 PM in Piazzetta Calasole, within the Tombolo Sud Nature Reserve in Cecina, with free admission.
The festival is organized by the Municipality of Cecina with the Pietro Mascagni Conservatory of Livorno, under the artistic direction of Federico Rovini and Sandro Cappelletto, in collaboration with the Mascagni Festival and Toscana Promozione Turistica. The program ranges from the classical chamber repertoire to tango, and from verismo opera to Puccini's arias.
Programme Note al Calasole 2026
Friday, June 19 — Arkattak Cello Orchestra
The ensemble of 14 cellists from the Pietro Mascagni Conservatory, with soloist Luca Provenzani, in a program dedicated to Carlos Gardel, Astor Piazzolla, and Ennio Morricone.
Saturday, June 20 — Silvia Chiesa and Maurizio Baglini
Recital for cello (Silvia Chiesa) and piano (Maurizio Baglini) featuring music by Mendelssohn, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Liszt, Busoni, Martucci, and Gershwin.
Friday, June 26 — "Sale. Mascagni and the Sea" (National Premiere)
"Sale — Mascagni e il mare. Voci, onde e memorie di un genio livornese", dramaturgy by Marco Voleri, featuring Alessandro Benvenuti, with sopranos Claire Nesti and Akane Tamura and pianist Massimo Salotti. Arias and pieces from Mascagni's operas, a Terre Mascagnane – Mascagni Festival 2026 project.
Saturday, June 27 — Werther Quartet
Misia Iannoni Sebastianini (violin), Martina Santarone (viola), Vladimir Bogdanovic (cello), and Antonino Fiumara (piano) perform Mozart's Quartet K. 493 and Brahms's Quartet Op. 60.
Friday, July 3 — Flute, Cello, and Piano Trio
Matilde Di Rienzo, Giada Campanelli, and Francesco Gorreri in a program featuring music by Haydn, Fauré, and Weber.
Saturday, July 4 — Guadagnini Quartet
Fabrizio Zoffoli and Cristina Papini (violins), Matteo Rocchi (viola), Alessandra Cefaliello (cello) with music by Shostakovich and Mozart.
Friday, July 10 — Giovanni Agostini and Nico Persichini
Cello (Giovanni Agostini) and piano (Nico Persichini) duo with Brahms's Sonata Op. 38 and Chopin's Sonata Op. 65.
Saturday, July 11 — "The Best of Puccini"
Grand finale with soprano Cinzia Forte and pianist Marco Scolastra: arias from Puccini's operas (La Bohème, Madama Butterfly, Tosca, Turandot).
Highlights Note al Calasole 2026
Prices Note al Calasole 2026
Practical information — Note al Calasole
How to get there
Access to the concerts is via the main gate of the Tombolo Sud Nature Reserve located on the side of Viale Galliano (gate 1 on the right), in Marina di Cecina. By car, Cecina can be reached via the SS1 Aurelia or the Firenze-Pisa-Livorno highway; by train, the reference station is Cecina, on the Tyrrhenian line.
Times and admission
Concerts begin at 7:00 PM, at sunset. Admission is free and open to all without reservation, subject to availability.
Tips
We recommend bringing a blanket to sit on in the pine forest and a light jacket for the evening. For information: Cecina Tourist Office, tel. +39 0586 620678.
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Where does it take place — Note al Calasole
Riserva Naturale Tombolo Sud — Piazzetta Calasole
Piazzetta Calasole, Riserva Naturale Tombolo Sud (accesso da Viale Galliano), 57023 Cecina