The history of the "Amici della Musica" or "Friends of Music" is closely linked to its creator, founder and supporter, Alberto Passigli. Convinced that a centre of music ought to be created in Florence that would be worthy of the prestige of the city, Passigli managed to arouse great interest in his proposal to form a Concert Society of international level. The"Amici della Musica" thus came into being in 1919.

The first concerts were held in the Hall of Palazzo Corsini; later a larger hall was created and then, for several years, the concerts were held in the White Room at the Pitti Palace. In 1930 Arturo Toscanini was invited to conduct the Philharmonic Orchestra of New York for the closing concert of the Season. The first Florentine Orchestra, the Orchestra del Teatro Politeama, was also created thanks to Alberto Passigli; this was soon to become an establishment under the direction of Maestro Gui and was to be conducted by many famous musicians, including Wilhelm Furtwängler.
Opera seasons also began to become extremely popular and a great many operas were staged (many of them first performances), with the scenery and costumes carried out by modern painters. The result was the birth of a new and special festival which was to become the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

Therefore the Amici della Musica and their founder played an important part in the birth of the most important musical institution in Florence.
The Amici della Musica brilliantly resumed its activity again after the war thanks first to Alberto Passigli and later his son Franco, who put new life into it. The season was transferred to the Teatro della Pergola in 1949.
The "Association Amici della Musica", in its present legal form, was set up in 1951.
Its main activity however is that of organizing of concerts of chamber music. The Amici della Musica, whose concert season is among the most prestigious in the world, represents one of the most lively cultural institutions to be found in Italy today.