In 1965, the Beatles performed four times in Rome; more than 60 years later, you can hear their hits again by candlelight at the Boscolo Circo Massimo

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Rachele Orsoni

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  October 28, 2026

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When you think of the Beatles, it’s easy to imagine uncontrollable crowds. But in Rome, in June 1965, things turned out differently: the Fab Four performed four times at the Teatro Adriano, with two concerts a day on June 27 and 28. None of the shows were sold out.

Today, more than 60 years later, the music of the Liverpool band returns to Rome in a moving Candlelight tribute: a string quartet reinterprets their most beloved songs by the light of thousands of candles.

60 years ago, Beatlemania hadn’t yet taken Rome by storm

In June 1965, the Beatles were already an international phenomenon, but in Rome, the enthusiasm wasn’t enough to fill the Teatro Adriano. The Fab Four performed four times in just two days, with Peppino di Capri opening the Italian dates.

Today it’s hard to imagine that the concerts by the band that would go on to change the history of pop—just a few years after the explosion of Beatlemania—still left empty seats. Yet, due to the summer heat, the cost of tickets, and the fact that the shows were spread over four dates, none of the shows sold out.

A symbol of the lack of enthusiasm for the British band were the words of Pier Paolo Pasolini, who dismissed their success by stating:

“Here Comes the Sun” and “Yesterday” return to Rome by candlelight

More than 60 years later, the Beatles’ music returns to Rome with two special Candlelight events. The first is entirely dedicated to the Fab Four: a string quartet reinterprets songs such as “Yesterday,” “Let It Be,” and “Hey Jude” at the Salone Bernini in Palazzo Ripetta on November 27 and 28 and December 13. Their songs also take center stage in the tribute shared with Queen, at the Boscolo Circo Massimo on November 6 and 7 and December 27: the program includes, among others, “Here Comes the Sun,” “Blackbird,” and “All You Need Is Love.”