Covid-19 had ravaged this part of Italy, including the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, but with typical Italian character and guile a reduced Festival starting in August has been possible, albeit at less than 40% capacity with constant Covid testing of artists and all involved. By using a more local fully Italian cast the Festival made it work and put on a real show. It is of course easier to downsize audience when you have nearly 3,500 seats to play with and a beautiful outdoor arena on the lake! Nevertheless there was a large number of medical staff available, temperatures were taken when you entered the grounds and masks were worn. Perhaps this was the first real Corona-Puccini Festival!