Stabat Mater - Dance and Music at the Certosa di Calci

Pergolesi's Stabat Mater comes to life in Calci

At the Certosa Monumentale di Calci, an intimate Carthusian complex in the heart of the Monte Pisano, Giovan Battista Pergolesi's celebrated Stabat Mater is transformed into a scenic experience that unites sacred music with contemporary dance. The 18th-century score, imbued with both sorrow and beauty, becomes fertile ground for a reinterpretation where choreography gives body and movement to the emotions of the grieving mother at the foot of the cross. The event takes place in the Certosa Church, located in the municipality of Calci, in the province of Pisa, in the heart of Tuscany.

Live music and auteur dance

The star of the show is the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, conducted by Maestro Giuseppe Lanzetta, performing Pergolesi's score live while dancers embody the central figures of the composition on stage. The choreography and direction are by Flavia Bucciero for the Consorzio Coreografi Danza d'Autore / Movimentoinactor Teatrodanza. The performance arises from a profound dialogue between body, music, and spirituality, representing a meeting point between the artistic heritage of cultural sites and contemporary performing arts.

Part of the National Museums of Pisa series

The event at the Certosa di Calci is part of the 'Music and Dance in the National Museums of Pisa' series, promoted by the Regional Directorate of National Museums of Pisa with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Fondazione Pisa. The series brings concerts and choreography to the Museo di Palazzo Reale, the Museo di San Matteo, the Museo delle Navi Antiche, and the Certosa Monumentale di Calci, all scheduled during museum opening hours so that visitors can also become spectators.

The Certosa di Calci: A unique setting

Founded in the 14th century, the Certosa Monumentale di Calci is one of the most impressive monastic complexes in Tuscany, featuring cloisters, Baroque frescoes, and a richly decorated church. Having Pergolesi's Stabat Mater resonate within these vaults restores sacred music to its natural context, amplifying the emotional power of the score and offering the public a rare opportunity to experience the monument in an immersive way.

A multisensory experience

Within the aisles of the church, the spectator is enveloped by the sound of the orchestra and the physical presence of the dancers: an intense, multisensory experience where sound and gesture merge to reinterpret the score through movement. The event confirms the commitment of Calci and the National Museums of Pisa to combining heritage preservation with contemporary creation in a cultural offering that is unparalleled in Tuscany.