It’s extremely interesting to be passing, in just a few days, from the noble interior world of the fourteen-year-old Mozart whose Mitridate, re di Ponto I’m conducting for the first time, to the fervour of Glinka, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich whose overture from the opera Ruslan and Ludmilla, Concerto in D major with enthralling violinist Leōnidas Kavako, and Symphony no. 9, respectively, I’m conducting. I’m able to count on an orchestra whose malleability I value, and with whom I’ve achieved interesting results this season, now bringing to a close a season that has been far from commonplace. We’re breathing in the atmosphere of beauty and elegance, not without revelations of the future great Mozart, that this serious opera composed in 1770 for Milan already contains. Is there any naivety? Yes, but they bear the signature of Mozart and allow us some glimpses of the exceptional creativity that this child from Salzburg would go on to develop. Vice versa, setting aside for a day the lofty atmosphere of Mozart for a “Russian” concert on 27th September will allow me to display the Naples orchestra’s virtuosity and capacity to sing, particularly in the wonderful violin concerto, testing ground for the greatest violinists.
We’re rounding off the programme with the Symphony that was to have celebrated the Soviet victory in the Second World War, had Shostakovich not eschewed any triumphal tone, drawing inspiration instead from Haydn’s classic structure to compose a work that greatly irritated the regime but, conversely, was warmly received in the west. Not because of ideological contraposition but for its musical reach and that subtle reflection on those who aimed to turn a blind eye to the horrors of war.

Mitridate, re di Ponto: 24, 26 and 29 September and 1 October. The opening night on 24 September will be broadcast live on Rai Radio 3 at 7 p.m.

Symphonic concert with violinist Leōnidas Kavakos: 27 September