The December musical calendar features a series of events spanning many Italian cities, with key programs and new productions, with a particular focus on season openings, new productions, and choreographic projects hosted by national theaters.

To Milan, the Scala programme registers a double moment of start of the season: on 4 December the Under 30 preview of the new 2025/2026 production will be proposed, while the official premiere is scheduled for December 7 with Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, in a new production of Vasily Barkhatov directed by Riccardo Chailly. Afterwards, the program includes the start of the dance program with Sleeping Beauty, in the historical reinterpretation of Rudolf Nureyev and with costumes designed by the’Franca Squarciapino Academy, Oscar winner. At the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, the December 3, an extraordinary concert celebrates the opening of the “Ambrosius, the Treasure of the Basilica” itinerary, with the Milan Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Choir and free admission. 

Florence offers a series of highly significant events. At the Maggio Fiorentino, from December 4th to 7th, the St. Matthew Passion Bach returns with the scenic imprint of Romeo Castellucci, the direction of Kent Nagano and the voice of Ian Bostridge. December 19, Riccardo Muti takes the podium to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Vittorio Gui's death. The Orchestra della Toscana presents the traditional Christmas concert at the Verdi Theater. The Friends of Music open the month with the Hagen Quartett recital December 1st, followed by András Schiff's evenings December 6, Hespèrion XXI directed by Jordi Savall the December 10, and Anastasia Kobekina's concert as part of their chamber music season.

To Rome, the Opera House keeps on stage Lohengrin by Wagner (2, 5, 7 December) in the opening production of the season, conducted by Michele Mariotti with direction by Damiano Michieletto. From December 17th to 31st, fourteen performances of The Nutcracker complete the month. The Accademia di Santa Cecilia entrusts Tugan Sokhiev with three dates (11, 12, 13 December) and welcomes Daniel Harding for the Third Symphony by Mahler (18, 19, 20 December). The chamber season features the Messiah by Handel the December 14, with the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists conducted by Christophe Rousset. On the same day, in the Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, the Academy Choir will participate in the festive mass featuring music by Perosi and Gounod, with free admission.

To Turin, the Rai Orchestra offers a symphonic program conducted by Juraj Valčuha on December 11th and 12th. The Teatro Regio hosts from December 5th to 14th the Prague National Theatre Ballet with Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev, while from December 19th to 28th The Riga National Opera Ballet arrives with Swan Lake in the version edited by Aivars Leimanis.

To Cagliari, on December 10 the Opera Season opens with Othello by Verdi, conducted by Francesco Lanzillotta and directed by Roberto Catalano, on stage until the 16th. The month also includes Swan Lake by Ballet Preljocaj, directed by Alice Farnham.

Genoa welcomes you to Carlo Felice Roberto Bolle in Caravaggio from 4th to 7th December and Coppelia from 19th to 21st, with choreography by Amedeo Amodio. Trieste inaugurates the season of the Teatro Verdi with The Marriage of Figaro (December 4, 6, 10, 12, 14) and The Barber of Seville (5, 7, 11, 13 December), both in the new productions conceived by Pier Luigi Pizzi and directed by Enrico Calesso.

Verona presents Ernani at the Teatro Filarmonico (14, 17, 19, 21 December) directed by Stefano Poda. Venice hosts the December 13th and 14th the concert conducted by Kazuki Yamada, with Ettore Pagano on cello. Bologna, the Nouveau Municipal proposes The Barber of Seville from 19th to 30th December under the direction of Renato Palumbo, while at the Auditorium Manzoni Roberto Abbado conducts a Hindemith-Schumann programme December 1st.

To Naples, the San Carlo opens the season with Medea of Cherubini the December 6, directed by Riccardo Frizza and starring Sondra Radvanovsky, on stage until the 16th. Followed by Parthenope by Ennio Morricone (12-14 December) and The Nutcracker from December 20th to January 4th. A Bari, the Petruzzelli sets up Carmen from 17 to 27 December in a new production. A Palermo, the Teatro Massimo opens the concert season on December 4th with The Leopard in projection with live orchestra, while La Boheme will be on stage from 14 to 23 December with Anastasia Bartoli in the role of Mimì.

Photo by Robert Workman.