Teacher: M° Michel Tabachnik
Orchestra: La Filharmonie Orchestra Filarmonica di Firenze – Professors the Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Period: August 26th – 31st 2026
Place: Teatro Niccolini, via Ricasoli 3, Firenze (Italy)
Programme of the Course
The masterclass is directed to conductors who want to increase their musical experience and work as professionals in the world of classical music.
The course is articulated in n°6 (six) days of lessons. The lessons will be recorded and at the end of the day, the students will discuss with the teacher about their performance with the help of the recording.
The recording will be given to the students in digital format at the end of the course.
The students will have daily podium time; all the students will be invited to conduct at least one piece at one of the final concerts. A concert suit/dress is required.
The organization and the teacher, by common consent, will recommend the best students to the following institutions: Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo (Italy); Symphony Orchestra MAV (Hungary); Budapest Strings Chamber Orchestra (Hungary); Witold Lutoslawsky Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra (Poland); La Filharmonie Orchestra Filarmonica di Firenze (Italy); Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra (Bulgaria).
Journalists and representatives of international artist agencies will be invited to attend the final concerts.
With the exception of the first day, all lessons will be with the symphony orchestra.
DAILY PROGRAMME
Wednesday August 26th
10:00 – 11:00 (10 a.m. – 11 a.m.) – Registration of the students egistration of the students and meeting with 11:00 – 13:00 (11 a.m. 1 p.m.) – Lesson with the teacher (theory, technique, score analysis)
13:00 – 14:00 (1 p.m. – 2030 p.m.) – Lunch break
14:00 – 19:00 (2 p.m. – 7.00 p.m.) – Lesson with the teacher (theory, technique, score analysis)
Thursday 27th, Friday 28th, Satrday 29th, Sunday 30th August 2026
10:00 – 13:00 (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) Lesson with the symphony orchestra
13:00 – 14:00 Pausa Lunch break
14:00 – 17:00 (2 p.m. – 5 p.m.) Lesson with the symphony orchestra
17:00 – 17:30 Break
17:30 – 19:00 Lesson with the teacher (theory, technique, score analysis)
Monday August 31st
Times to be confirmed: final concerts by students. The best students will conduct the evening concert included in the Teatro Niccolini season.
RECORDINGS
All the sessions with the orchestra will be recorded with a front camera. The recording will be given to the student at the end of the masterclass.
REPERTOIRE OF THE MASTERCLASS
Students are invited to choose a maximum of three pieces from the repertoire plus the extra piece by Iannis Xenakis (optional but recommended)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Don Giovanni Ouverture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Don Giovanni Ouverture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Die Zauberfloete Overture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony n.40
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony n.41
Ludwig van Beethoven – Coriolan Ouverture
Ludwig van Beethoven – Egmont Ouverture
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony n.5 in C minor
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony n.7 in A major
Felix Mendelssohn – Symphony n.3 “Scottish”
Franz Schubert – Symphony n.8 “Unfinished”
Richard Wagner – Siegfried-Idyll
Anton Bruckner – Symphony n.8 in C minor
Giuseppe Verdi – Sinfonia da “La forza del destino”
Giuseppe Verdi – Sinfonia da “Nabucco”
Giuseppe Verdi – Preludes from “la Traviata” Act I and Act III
Pietro Mascagni – Intermezzo from “Cavalleria Rusticana”
Giacomo Puccini – Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut
Modest Petrovič Mussorgsky – Night on the Bald Mountain
Claude Debussy – Prélude à l’après midi d’un faune
Johannes Brahms – Symphony n.1 in C minor
Johannes Brahms – Symphony n.4 in E minor
Johannes Brahms – Tragic Ouverture
Johannes Brahms – Variations on a theme by Joseph Haydn
Antonín Dvorak – Symphony n.9
Pëtr Il’ič Tchaikovsky – Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Ouverture
Luciano Berio – Folksongs
Igor Stravinsky – Firebird Suite 1919
Extra repertoire:
Iannis Xenakis – Aroura
COURSE FEE AND REQUIREMENTS
Couse fee, active students: € 2.230,00
Application fee: € 250,00
Total amount of fees: € 2.480,00
The application fee has to be paid at the moment of the application; the course fee has to be paid in two tranches, the first at the closing of the applications and the second before the beginning of the masterclass.
Age limit: the masterclass is open to conductors born after 1978 (45 years old). If you are older than 45 and would like to participate, please write us an email and we will be glad to evaluate your situation.
The applications will be processed in order of arrival, there is no admission examination, even if we expect a basic knowledge of conducting technique and recommend some experience in conducting professional orchestras. In order to evaluate properly if Florence Conducting Masterclass is a good choice for the student’s particular situation, we encourage them to send an email or call the organizer before applying.
PASSIVE STUDENTS
The participation fee for passive students is unique and permits to assist to the whole day lessons;
Course fee, auditors: € 500,00
MEALS AND ACCOMMODATION
Meals and accommodation are up to the participants. The organization will offer assistance in finding proper accommodation in Florence for the period of the masterclass. We have a special agreement with Centro Studi Giorgio La Pira that can offer nice single rooms at €40 per night. The availability is limited so these rooms will be offered to the first who will make a reservation.
FINAL PROVISIONS
The courses will be activated with a minimum number of students.
The application and participation fees will not be returned in any case, except the cancellation of the courses; in that case, the students will be promptly advised. The participation at the courses implies the full acceptance of the present rules. Artes Association will give prompt notification of any modification of the rules that may occur. For any legal action, the Italian text of the announcement must be considered. The competent forum is Prato’s.
DAILY PROGRAMME
Wednesday August 26th
10:00 – 11:00 (10 a.m. – 11 a.m.) – Registration of the students egistration of the students and meeting with 11:00 – 13:00 (11 a.m. 1 p.m.) – Lesson with the teacher (theory, technique, score analysis)
13:00 – 14:00 (1 p.m. – 2030 p.m.) – Lunch break
14:00 – 19:00 (2 p.m. – 7.00 p.m.) – Lesson with the teacher (theory, technique, score analysis)
Thursday 27th, Friday 28th, Satrday 29th, Sunday 30th August 2026
10:00 – 13:00 (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) Lesson with the symphony orchestra
13:00 – 14:00 Pausa Lunch break
14:00 – 17:00 (2 p.m. – 5 p.m.) Lesson with the symphony orchestra
17:00 – 17:30 Break
17:30 – 19:00 Lesson with the teacher (theory, technique, score analysis)
Monday August 31st
Times to be confirmed: final concerts by students. The best students will conduct the evening concert included in the Teatro Niccolini season.
RECORDINGS
All the sessions with the orchestra will be recorded with a front camera. The recording will be given to the student at the end of the masterclass.
REPERTOIRE OF THE MASTERCLASS
Students are invited to choose a maximum of three pieces from the repertoire plus the extra piece by Iannis Xenakis (optional but recommended)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Don Giovanni Ouverture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Don Giovanni Ouverture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Il flauto magico Overture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony n.40
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony n.41
Ludwig van Beethoven – Coriolan Ouverture
Ludwig van Beethoven – Egmont Ouverture
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony n.5 in C minor
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony n.7 in A major
Felix Mendelssohn – Symphony n.3 “Scottish”
Franz Schubert – Symphony n.8 “Unfinished”
Richard Wagner – Siegfried-Idyll
Anton Bruckner – Symphony n.8 in C minor
Giuseppe Verdi – Sinfonia da “La forza del destino”
Giuseppe Verdi – Sinfonia da “Nabucco”
Giuseppe Verdi – Preludes from “la Traviata” Act I and Act III
Pietro Mascagni – Intermezzo from “Cavalleria Rusticana”
Giacomo Puccini – Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut
Modest Petrovič Mussorgsky – Night on the Bald Mountain
Claude Debussy – Prélude à l’après midi d’un faune
Johannes Brahms – Symphony n.1 in C minor
Johannes Brahms – Symphony n.4 in E minor
Johannes Brahms – Tragic Ouverture
Johannes Brahms – Variations on a theme by Joseph Haydn
Antonín Dvorak – Symphony n.9
Pëtr Il’ič Tchaikovsky – Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Ouverture
Luciano Berio – Folksongs
Igor Stravinsky – Firebird Suite 1919
Extra repertoire:
Iannis Xenakis – Aroura
COURSE FEE AND REQUIREMENTS
Couse fee, active students: € 2.270,00
Application fee: € 250,00
Total amount of fees: € 2.520,00
The application fee has to be paid at the moment of the application; the course fee has to be paid in two tranches, the first at the closing of the applications and the second before the beginning of the masterclass.
Age limit: the masterclass is open to conductors born after 1976 (50 years old). If you are older than 45 and would like to participate, please write us an email and we will be glad to evaluate your situation.
The applications will be processed in order of arrival, there is no admission examination, even if we expect a basic knowledge of conducting technique and recommend some experience in conducting professional orchestras. In order to evaluate properly if Florence Conducting Masterclass is a good choice for the student’s particular situation, we encourage them to send an email or call the organizer before applying.
PASSIVE STUDENTS
The participation fee for passive students is unique and permits to assist to the whole day lessons;
Course fee, auditors: € 500,00
MEALS AND ACCOMMODATION
Meals and accommodation are up to the participants. The organization will offer assistance in finding proper accommodation in Florence for the period of the masterclass. We have a special agreement with Centro Studi Giorgio La Pira that can offer nice single rooms at €40 per night. The availability is limited so these rooms will be offered to the first who will make a reservation.
FINAL PROVISIONS
The courses will be activated with a minimum number of students.
The application and participation fees will not be returned in any case, except the cancellation of the courses; in that case, the students will be promptly advised. The participation at the courses implies the full acceptance of the present rules. Artes Association will give prompt notification of any modification of the rules that may occur. For any legal action, the Italian text of the announcement must be considered. The competent forum is Prato’s.