Opera is universally considered the most complete and varied form of theatre as it involves at the same time music, singing, acting and often dancing set in a scenic context, fruit of great talents and skills.

For the latest four centuries, melodrama has developed all sort of different techniques and amazing devices in order to support the emotions that music scores and plots create in the spectator. Only since the 20th century, anyway, great names of the world of art have worked more constantly with directors, producers and composers. Famous artists as Picasso, Matisse, De Chirico, Balla, De Pero and Sironi have offered their talent to opera and ballet in France, Italy and Russia. This interesting trend reached its peak at Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in the 1930s.

Unique and original is therefore the relationship that the Puccini Festival of Torre del Lago has established since the year 2000 with the sculptors of Little Athens, a group of international artists operating in Pietrasanta.

In Summer 2000 the Japanese sculptor Kan Yasuda debuted as set-designer for Puccini Festival’s new production of Madama Butterfly. Premiered during the 49th season, the production then toured in Japan within “Italia in Giappone 2001” and in Spring 2002 at Wiesbaden International May Festival.

Following the huge success this first production received, Puccini Festival Foundation resolved to continue this fruitful experience with other world-known artists, who could put themselves to the test by dealing with the big, suggestive stage on the shores of Massaciuccoli Lake.

In 2002 Manon Lescaut was the second Puccini’s opera to be “sculpted” by one of the great names of the world of art, Igor Mitoraj, who designed the wonderful sets and costumes for the Festival's new production, which opened its 48th season.

In 2003 the stage of Torre del Lago hosted a new important debut: the famous Belgian painter, sculptor and illustrator Jean-Michel Folon designed sets for the new production of La Bohème, top title of the 49th Puccini Festival. Thanks to a fruitful cooperation between Fondazione Festival Pucciniano, AKOUNA and IDEE FIXE, in Summer 2004 this production of La Bohème toured through France and Belgium. It was back on stage in Torre del Lago in Summer 2005.

In 2004, the Festival looked again to Pietrasanta to supply the talents of Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, who brought potent design ideas for a new production celebrating the centenary of the Maestro’s most popular work, Madama Butterfly. Premiered in Torre del Lago just 100 years after its first success in Brescia on May 28th, 1904, the Puccini Festival production enjoyed a triumphant tour in Japan in September 2004.

Again in 2004, 50th Puccini Festival presented an exciting new production of Turandot with designs by Italian sculptor Pietro Cascella, who plastically transposed the Maestro's music into a dream-like scenery, beyond the limits of time and space. This work opened the Australian Puccini Fsetival in Melbourne in November 2004.

For its 2005 Season, Puccini Festival continued its co-operation with great names of the world of art for its opera productions: famous U.S. painter Nall designed sets for a new production of La Fanciulla del West.

 In Summer 2006 Igor Mitoraj  presented in Torre del Lago his new production of Tosca, the opening opera of the 52nd Puccini Festival, inside the project "Sculpting the opera": scenes and costumes by Igor Mitoraj, directed by Mario Corradi, with Norma Fantini, conducted by Maestro Alberto Veronesi.

The project Sculpting the Opera had in 2007 other two prestigious productions that will fulfil a long run path and that since
2000 involved the most great artists rendering the sets of the masterpieces by PucciniIn 2007 Ugo Nespolo  had
his debut in Torre del Lago as set designer and he worked to a new production of Madama
Butterfly for the edition n. 53 of the Puccini Festival.In the 2007 season  was staged, 90 years after the first
representation, La Rondine  designed by the american artist Nall who made his debut as set designer in Torre del Lago
with the great success production of La Fanciulla del West.