Giaconda! - The Musical

Leonardo da Vinci and the Mona Lisa -

- probably the most famous combination in the history of art.

But what if the Mona Lisa's smile was not a mystery -
but a secret...

Five hundred years after his death Leonardo is still celebrated as one of the most remarkable geniuses that ever lived. The Mona Lisa, if not the greatest, certainly must qualify as the best known painted work of art in the world.

Unveiling the secrets behind the world's most famous smile, 'GIACONDA!' reimagines the Renaissance masterpiece through the previously untold story of a passionate affair between Lisa del Giocondo and Leonardo da Vinci's favourite apprentice Salai, set against the background of Leonardo's lifelong illicit love for Salai

MICHAEL HUGHES' book THE SECRET BEHIND THE SMILE , on which the musical is based, tells the real reason for that enigmatic smile. Set mainly in 1503 Florence it's a romance that ultimately becomes a tragedy. An astonishing story of love, intrigue, blackmail, and betrayal that captures the Renaissance atmosphere and artistic passions that surrounded the creation of this iconic masterpiece.

Leonardo's love for his apprentice Salai is well documented.
He reluctantly let Salai join him on the sittings and
Salai fell in love with Lisa. Lisa returned his love and the consequences were tragic...

SINGLE PAGE SYNOPSIS

History is an imprecise science. We rely on accounts often written many years after the event, and scholars still debate many basic details. Woven around the known facts GIACONDA! - The Musical is an original dramatic interpretation, with dates, characters and locations as accurate as history will allow. Only where necessary have some characters and certain events had to be assumed.

There are over 30 original compositions in GIACONDA!

Click a button on the left to play one of my favourites

PHIL HAMPSON