Notes in the Cloisters of Empoli
Summer concerts in the historic cloisters of Empoli
About Notes in the Cloisters
A symphonic festival in the heart of Empoli
Notes in the Cloisters of Empoli is the summer festival of classical and symphonic music that brings the historic cloisters of Empoli, a city in the Metropolitan City of Florence in the heart of Tuscany, to life. The initiative is promoted by the Il Contrappunto Association, a musical organization founded by Maestro Andrea Mura and currently led by artistic director Damiano Tognetti, with the patronage of the Municipality of Empoli and the Metropolitan City of Florence, and the support of the Ministry of Culture.
Now in its second edition, the festival brings great live music to some of the city's most fascinating venues: concerts begin at 9:15 PM and take place in the evocative evening atmosphere of the cloisters, where the acoustics and the beauty of these ancient spaces enhance the listening experience.
The cloisters, stages under the stars
The evenings are held on a rotating basis across four historic venues in the Empoli area:
- Cloister of the Church of Santa Maria a Ripa, the opening venue and heart of the festival
- Cloister of the Collegiate Church of Sant'Andrea, in the historic center
- Cloister of the Augustinians, which hosts major concerts and opera events
- Cloister of the Church of SS. Simone e Giuda, in the village of Corniola
A program of symphonies, opera, and tributes
The program alternates between symphonic repertoire, tributes to great Italian film scores, and opera. The stars of the evenings include the Il Contrappunto Orchestra and prestigious guest ensembles such as the Florence Chamber Orchestra, the Sanremo Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the Teatro Goldoni in Livorno, led by various conductors and accompanied by renowned soloists.
Alongside tributes to Ennio Morricone and Domenico Modugno, the program features works by Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Nino Rota, as well as extraordinary concerts dedicated to Puccini's "Suor Angelica" and Ravel's famous "Boléro" with Bizet's "Carmen Suite". Some evenings offer free admission, while others are ticketed, depending on the annual program.
Empoli and the musical summer
Notes in the Cloisters of Empoli is part of the broader summer calendar of the Il Contrappunto Association, which also organizes the traveling festival "Music in the Villages". Together, the two initiatives bring over fifteen concerts to the entire Empoli territory, confirming Empoli as one of the most vibrant musical hubs in Tuscany during the summer months.
Notes in the Cloisters — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Notes in the Cloisters of Empoli takes place from June 10 to August 5 with ten evening events at 9:15 PM. The festival alternates between symphonic concerts, tributes to great film scores, and opera, distributed between the Cloister of Santa Maria a Ripa, the Cloister of the Collegiate Church of Sant'Andrea, the Cloister of the Augustinians, and the Cloister of the SS. Simone e Giuda in Corniola. Some evenings are free, others are ticketed.
Programme Notes in the Cloisters 2026
June 10 — Cloister of Santa Maria a Ripa
"Between nature and enchantment: from Oberon to the Pastoral" — Il Contrappunto Orchestra conducted by Andrea Mura. Music by Weber and Beethoven. Free admission.
June 17 — Cloister of SS. Simone e Giuda (Corniola)
"Like a cannon shot! When opera meets comedy" — conductor Alessandro Bartolozzi, with Davide Ciarrocchi (tenor), Romano Martinuzzi (baritone), and Anastassiya Kozhukharova (soprano). Music by Rossini, Mozart, and Donizetti. Free admission.
June 24 — Cloister of the Augustinians
"The road of love" — Il Contrappunto Orchestra conducted by Vito Clemente. Music by Nino Rota. Paid admission.
July 1 — Cloister of Santa Maria a Ripa
"Tribute to Morricone" — Florence Chamber Orchestra conducted by Giuseppe Lanzetta. Music by Morricone, Rota, Piovani, and Bacalov. Free admission.
July 8 — Cloister of the Collegiate Church of Sant'Andrea
"Compositions in bloom" — Il Contrappunto Orchestra conducted by Claudio Cohen, with Fabrizio Meloni on clarinet. Music by Darmanin, Weber, and Beethoven. Free admission.
July 15 — Cloister of the Augustinians
"Tribute to Modugno" — Sanremo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Giancarlo Del Lorenzo, with Peppe Voltarelli on vocals. Paid admission.
July 22 — Cloister of Santa Maria a Ripa
"Destiny, grace, and power" — conductor Marek Wroniszewski, with Eliso Bolkvadze on piano and horn players Dario Venghi, Stefano Berluti, Gianni Calonaci, and Andrea Mugnaini. Music by Schumann, Mozart, and Beethoven. Free admission.
July 29 — Cloister of Santa Maria a Ripa
"Mists and infinity" — Il Contrappunto Orchestra conducted by Andrea Mura. Music by Schubert and Mendelssohn. Free admission.
Extraordinary concerts — Cloister of the Augustinians
- July 30 — "Suor Angelica" by Puccini, Il Contrappunto Orchestra conducted by Mario Menicagli. Paid admission.
- August 5 — "Boléro" by Ravel and "Carmen Suite" by Bizet, Orchestra of the Teatro Goldoni in Livorno conducted by Damiano Tognetti. Paid admission.
Highlights Notes in the Cloisters 2026
Prices Notes in the Cloisters 2026
Practical information — Notes in the Cloisters
How to get there
Empoli is located along the Florence-Pisa railway line: Empoli station is well-connected by regional trains. By car, the reference exit is Empoli on the Florence-Pisa-Livorno (FI-PI-LI) highway.
Times and venues
All concerts begin at 9:15 PM in the cloisters of Santa Maria a Ripa, the Collegiate Church of Sant'Andrea, the Augustinians, and the SS. Simone e Giuda in Corniola.
Tickets
Some concerts offer free admission (subject to availability), while others are ticketed. For information on tickets and pre-sales, please contact the Il Contrappunto Association (email [email protected], tel. +39 353 4799903).
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Where does it take place — Notes in the Cloisters
Chiostro della Chiesa di Santa Maria a Ripa
Via Salaiola, 50053 Empoli