Madrid – As part of its “On Stage at the Palace” performance series, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Madrid presents “Being Leonardo da Vinci. An Impossible Interview”, a theatrical production exploring the life and genius of the Renaissance master across art, science and invention.
The performance will take place on Thursday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Institute’s theatre.
Directed by and starring Massimiliano Finazzer Flory, the play adopts the format of an “impossible interview” to offer audiences a vivid and unexpected portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. Through period costumes and meticulous makeup, Finazzer Flory physically transforms into Leonardo, engaging in dialogue with a contemporary journalist portrayed by actor Riccardo Rigamonti.
“Leonardo is not only, as he defined himself, an inventor and interpreter of nature and humanity,” says Finazzer Flory, “but also someone who teaches us that the desire to know is natural to the good person. Our tribute begins there, in Leonardo’s language, convinced that theatre can do what Leonardo asks of us: to write with the soul.”
The script draws from Leonardo’s original writings, including the renowned Treatise on Painting, guiding the audience beyond the myth to discover the man, painter, scientist and inventor. The play addresses his childhood, working method, the relationship between art and science, and his reflections on anatomy, botany, mathematics, music and engineering.
It also delves into The Last Supper, the artist’s passions, the “movements of the soul,” and even his visionary thoughts about the future of humanity. The result is an evocative theatrical encounter bridging Renaissance thought and contemporary reflection, restoring the full revolutionary force of Leonardo’s genius.