With a delightful blend of Italian language, culture, food, wine and music, a group of Italian language students and friends from Hampshire, led by their teacher Francesca Ardiccioni, embarked on an unforgettable journey to the historic city of Lucca. This trip follows last year's memorable performances by famous Italian soprano Silvana Froli and renowned English pianist Richard Pearce, held in the Saint Nicholas church in Bishop Sutton and the chapel of St Cross in . Venturing through the cobblestone streets of Lucca and exploring nearby gems like Barga, Collodi, Giardino Garzoni and Fattoria di Petrognano, the travellers immersed themselves in the rich tapestry of Tuscany.
One of the highlights was the private visit to Teatrino del FAI in Vetriano, where Silvana Froli and baritone Lisandro Guines were accompanied by flautist Sara Tomei and pianist Richard Pearce. From the stirring arias and duets of Tosca, La Bohème and Madama Butterfly, to the evocative melodies of Carmen, the repertoire was a celebration of Italian and French opera. The city of Lucca invited Richard Pearce to perform a public recital, arranged by Silvana Froli, in the historic church of San Pietro Somaldi.
Here Richard expressed his exceptional talent, playing the organ that Puccini himself had played. Alternating between the works of Giacomo Puccini, Elgar and other composers, Pearce's colourful and breathtaking performance culminated in a beautiful rendition of Puccini's ‘Salve Regina’, sung by Si.
