The Sagra Musicale Lucchese, the city’s longest running festival in the city continues in June. This year it leads us into eighteenth century music and the discovery of Andrea Luchesi, a musician whose life is still partly overshadowed by mystery who was recently called the ghost of Mozart and Haydn and who was Beethoven’s teacher. Among the fascinating concerts (hosted in highly evocative places with sacred music, choirs, and organ) of Luccan composers who have formed part of the city’s history, the festival dedicates space to the artist who may have inspired the two great composers with a concert presenting the first modern performances of this unusual composer re-discovered by Luca Bacci.

The fifty-third Sagra Musicale Lucchese will run until 11th June, in some of the most beautiful churches of Lucca and its province. It’s organized by the Archdiocese of Lucca, the Province of Lucca and the City of Lucca and supported by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca and Oleificio Rocchi. The concerts invite you to discover the charm of great music in eighteenth century Lucca.
On Saturday, June 11th, at 9 pm in the church of San Michele, there’s a concert with first performances of hitherto unpublished eighteenth century pieces for soloists, chorus and orchestra, by Andrea Luchesi and performed by the Choir of Santa Cecilia and the Orchestra da Camera Luigi Boccherini conducted by Luca Bacci who, since February 2013, is director of the Musical Chapel Choir of St. Cecilia at Lucca Cathedral. Andrea Luchesi (Motta di Livenza in 1741 – Bonn in 1801) was Kapellmeister to the Elector in Bonn for twenty years, from 1774 to 1794. Free admission.