近日，备受瞩目的“里卡尔多·穆蒂意大利歌剧学院—中国2024”在苏州举办。
When 83-year-old conductor Riccardo Muti reflects on his musical training, he is proud of his teachers, especially Antonino Votto (1896-1985), the Italian conductor who was Arturo Toscanini's assistant at Milan's Teatro alla Scala. Muti, who is one of the world's preeminent conductors, has led some of the most important orchestras in the world, including the Berliner Philharmoniker, the New York Philharmonic, and the Vienna Philharmonic.
The conductor observes the proceedings.
With the goal of passing on what he learned from his teachers, he launched the Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy in 2015, the first round of which was held in Ravenna. Since then, talented young musicians and an audience of music lovers from all over the world have participated in the annual program, which has been hosted in cities around the world, including Milan, Seoul and Tokyo.
On Saturday, Muti and his program arrived in Suzhou in Jiangsu province, the first time the prestigious event has been held in China. In collaboration with the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, it has brought together 15 young conductors and seven singers selected from a global pool.
From last Saturday to this coming Sunday, the participants have been receiving personal guidance from Muti himself, who is leading them through intense courses and rehearsals focused on the Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry), an opera in one act by Italian composer Pietro Mascagni.
The project will culminate in two concert performances on Saturday and Sunday, featuring the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra and notable Chinese choirs, including the China National Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and the Tianjin Conservatory of Music Youth Choir. Four conductors will have the opportunity to participate in the concerts.
Young conductors and singers take part in the Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy organized by Italian conductor Riccardo Muti at Jinji Lake Concert Hall in Suzhou on Saturday.
The maestro also used his trip as an opportunity to visit museums, learning about Suzhou's cultural heritage.
Conductor Fang Zhongling, 27, is one of the standout participants in the Suzhou program.
"I am participating in this academy because I want to learn from maestro Muti's experience and the essence of Italian opera. Maestro Muti's pursuit of drama in music has left a deep impression on me. He said that every note has a meaning, and every measure has drama. This has inspired me to rethink the meaning, context, and dramatic elements behind every character and every line in opera, starting from the script and lyrics," says Fang, who graduated from the China Conservatory of Music, and the UK's Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He is now assistant conductor with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.
Fang also says that the maestro brought with him a deep knowledge of authentic Italian opera culture, which is not easy to absorb in such a short period of time.
Source: China Daily
