23 April-7 May 2004. For the Maggio Musciale Fiorentino, conducted by Zubin Mehta, directed by Graham Vick.

The 67th Maggio Musicale Fiorentino festival opens with Die Meistersinger von Nrnberg by Richard Wagner, 23 April-7 May, directed by Graham Vick, who has become a regular in Florence. Vick is a much talked-about artist, whose controversial performances always provoke a wide range of reactions. His interpretation of Tamerlano by Hndel was received enthusiastically in 2001, thanks to the rich costumes and scenery, and the originality of the direction. But last November, the crude vulgarity of some of the scenes in Verdis Rigoletto caused rather more perplexity. For the musical side in this performance, Vick will be working with conductor Zubin Mehta. The pair last collaborated on Les Troyens by Berlioz in 2002, for which Mehta received a prize for best conductor of the year. Paolo Di Nicola