October 1 – 4, 2026 | Teatro Verdi, Florence
CHORALSPACE On Tour
Our second international project goes to Florence for a spectacular festival at one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world: the Teatro Verdi.
Under the direction of Simon Halsey, our international singers meet in Florence to create a unique musical experience. This international community of choirs, ensembles and singers from all over the world is much more than a musical event, it is also a source of inspiration that encourages people to share their passion for music.
Welcome to Florence!
Would you like to perform with us?
The project is open to singers who register individually as well as to choirs and ensembles that can participate as a complete ensemble or as part of an ensemble.
Registrations are now open.
Read more and join us today!
What do we sing?
Giacomo Puccini’s Messa di Gloria
The mass was written during Puccinis’ studies at the Istituto Musicale Pacini and performed for the first time in Lucca on July 12, 1880.
For this project we will use the vocal score of the Carus Edition.
World Premiere
The Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds will write a new piece on the occasion of the 800. Anniversary of the Saint Francis of Assisi’s Day coinciding with the closing concert of our project in Florence. The piece is commissioned by CHORALSPACE in collaboration with the Chamber Choir Flanders and will be premiered at the final concert of the project.
The score and the learning material for the new piece of Ēriks Ešenvalds will be provided to all participants.
Who will lead the project?
Simon Halsey, three-time Grammy winner and ambassador for choral singing around the world.
Where will rehearsals and concert take place?
All rehearsals and the concert will take place in the Teatro Verdi in Florence.
The fringe program of the event will include additional choir performances in some of Florence’s most beautiful churches.
What costs are involved?
The participation fee for the festival for all registrations received until December 15, 2025 is EUR 98.00 per participant. The participation fee for the registrations received from December 16, 2025 is EUR 110.00 per participant.
Non-performing accompanying persons are offered a reduced participation fee of EUR 55.00 per person that includes access to all workshops, rehearsals and a concert tickets in the best category.
Accompanying persons, friends and fans that wish to attend only the concert can purchase concert tickets in our ticket website.
Puccini in Florence
CHORALSPACE’s Spectacular Festival On Tour
Will you join us?
The schedule of the project
October 1, 2026
Choir and Piano Rehearsal 1
14:00 – 16:00 Teatro Verdi
Choir and Piano Rehearsal 2
16:30 – 18:30 Teatro Verdi
Welcome Concert
21:00 Venue tbd
Choirs and Ensembles involved in the project will present solo showcases
October 2, 2026
Choir and Piano Rehearsal 3
14:00 – 16:00 Teatro Verdi
Choir and Orchestra Rehearsal
17:00 – 20:00 Teatro Verdi
October 3, 2026
Final Rehearsal
14:00 – 17:00 Teatro Verdi
Concert “Night of Choirs”
21:00 Venue tbd
Choirs and Ensembles involved in the project will present solo showcases
October 4, 2026
Singing in Churches
11:00 various churches in Florence
Selected ensembles will sing in the Sunday mass
Warm-up and Acoustic Check
15:00 Teatro Verdi
Final Concert “Puccini in Florence”
17:00 – 19:00 Teatro Verdi
Solo showcases of selected choirs
Intermission
Ēriks Ešenvalds “World Premiere”
Giacomo Puccini “Messa di Gloria”
Get Together
From 20:00
In various restaurants in Florence
Conductor
Simon Halsey (Principal Conductor)
Simon Halsey occupies a unique position in classical music. As an ambassador for choral singing to amateurs of every age, ability and background he has led ground-breaking massed choral events around the world.
Halsey’s numerous awards include three Grammys for his recordings with the Rundfunkchor Berlin. He was made Commander of the British Empire in 2015, was awarded The Queen’s Medal for Music in 2014, and received the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2011 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to choral music in Germany.
The “Puccinin in Florence” project will be Simon Halsey’s third appearance at CHORALSPACE following his projects with Brahms Requiem in June 2023 and Lobgesang in June 2025.
Take the stage with us
Register today
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any question or comments.