09/08/2026 ore: 21:30 - 23:30
Torre Pendente, Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa
On Sunday, August 9, at 9:30 PM, the Grand Opera Gala will take place at the foot of the Bell Tower—marking the exact anniversary of the laying of the Leaning Tower’s foundation stone on August 9, 1173. The concert is free and open to the public. For the occasion, the Tower will close early and be illuminated to provide a stunning backdrop for the evening.
The stage will feature leading figures from today’s opera scene, such as tenor Francesco Meli, soprano Mariam Battistelli, and mezzo-soprano Cristina Mosca. Joining the three singers is the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Marcello Rota. A program of celebrated arias, songs, and duets—drawn from works by Delibes, Bizet, Offenbach, Puccini, and Lehár—will alternate with symphonic pieces such as the Overture to Bellini’s *Norma* and extraordinary film scores by Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota, including *Once Upon a Time in the West* and *Amarcord*.
In addition to the unforgettable themes from *Once Upon a Time in the West* and *Amarcord*—created by Ennio Morricone for Sergio Leone’s film and Nino Rota for Federico Fellini’s movie, respectively—the program includes another famous score by Nino Rota: “Canzone arrabbiata” (Canto per chi non ha fortuna), a ballad composed for Lina Wertmüller’s *Love and Anarchy*. It will be performed by the versatile Cristina Mosca—a specialist in film music—accompanied by the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra. Under the baton of Marcello Rota, the orchestra will also present a lively instrumental interlude: the “Neapolitan Tarantella” from Rossini’s *Soirées musicales*.
Info: Opera Primaziale Pisana
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USEFUL INFO: Admission is free and does not require a ticket; seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not accepted. Access to the seating area via Via del Duomo will open at 6:30 PM. However, starting at 5:00 PM, access to Piazza del Duomo from the Via Cardinal Maffi side will be closed to both entry and exit. Free access to monuments The monuments in Piazza del Duomo will be open for free evening visits from 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM. Access to the Baptistery, the Camposanto, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, and the Museo delle Sinopie requires a reservation (available from July 27) via the website www.scopripisa.it/calendario-eventi/. The Cathedral will remain open for visits without a reservation, subject to controlled entry numbers.