A contemporary take

January 29, 2017 11:42 pm | Updated 11:42 pm IST

night at the opera: Conductor Carlo Rizzi will present a production of La Boheme Revisted as part of the Symphony Orchestra of India Spring 2017 Season.

night at the opera: Conductor Carlo Rizzi will present a production of La Boheme Revisted as part of the Symphony Orchestra of India Spring 2017 Season.

Italian maestro Carlo Rizzi first conducted Giacomo Puccini’s famous opera La Boheme in 1993, when he was 33. Since then, he has lost count of the number of times he’s performed it, and roughly estimates the figure to be over a hundred.

Yet, his forthcoming rendition of the opera promises to be very special for him. Accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI), the rendition will be an innovative new production called La Boheme Revisited .

As part of the SOI Spring 2017 Season, Rizzi’s India tour begins on Sunday evening with a programme featuring Richard Wagner’s ‘ Prelude and liebestod from Tristan Und Isolde ’; the ‘ Der Rosenkavalier suite ’ by Richard Strauss; and Ludwig van Beethoven’s renowned ‘Symphony No. 5’.

On February 2, Rizzi returns to the stage to conduct the Opera Gala, containing excerpts from compositions by Giuseppe Verdi, Umberto Giordano and Georges Bizet. And a week later, on February 8, the master conductor presents his rendition of of La Boheme Revisited , followed by two more performances conducted by Zane Dalal on February 9 and 11.

“It’s my first visit to India, and I am excited,” says Rizzi. “Besides the concerts, I also want to learn a bit about Indian music. Till date, my only exposure was when I once saw the great Zubin Mehta, and part of the programme had Ravi Shankar presenting his second sitar concerto .”

Growing up in Milan, Rizzi was exposed to classical music from early childhood. “Different types of music were played that time, and I don’t really know why I took to classical. But I loved it. There was opera, the late romantic repertoire, contemporary music, the works.”

Rizzi started by playing piano. “That is an individual instrument, but since my brother was a violinist, we started playing together. Soon, I was part of a chamber orchestra, and that’s when I began to appreciate the beauty of group music.”

Slowly, Rizzi was inspired to start conducting orchestras, focusing on both symphonic pieces and opera. Dispelling the notion that he is an opera specialist, he says, “I am probably more known for opera, because they are grander in scale and take a lot of time to prepare.”

According to Rizzi, both opera and instrumental classical music have their own charm. “Conducting an opera may be more complicated because one has to keep various factors in mind simultaneously: the singers, orchestra, scenery, lighting, every detail on stage. When you conduct an opera, you learn to shape the frames.”

At the same time, Rizzi has always loved conducting Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky and Mahler as much as opera legends Verdi and Puccini.

“I really can’t say who’s my favourite or explain how I change my approach each time.”

How does he train and mentor the musicians? “During rehearsals, I listen to them closely. I see where fine-tuning is needed, and then offer my suggestions. It is important to understand the people in front of me, and convince them we can all do it together.”

Rizzi points out that a conductor’s main aim should be to interpret the composition in the right way and get the best expression from everyone on stage and in the orchestra. “He has to have something to say and take everyone else in the right direction.”

On his favourite pieces as a conductor, Rizzi says, “In orchestral music, it could be anything by Bach or Mozart. In opera, La Boheme is my chosen preference. Strangely, I started performing it 10 years after I began conducting.”

La Boheme , which premiered in Turin, Italy, in 1896, is inspired by a collection of stories by French novelist Henry Murger. Unlike earlier Italian operas which focused on mythological characters, kings and wealthy aristocrats, it belonged to the verismo (true to life) style, involving ordinary characters in everyday settings. It broadly revolves around the ups and downs in a romantic relationship, and the protagonists Rodolfo and Mimi are among the most recognised in theatrical productions.

While retaining the soul of the original, the new production will aim to make the opera a bit contemporary. “It’s an opera for all kinds of people,” says Rizzi. Surely, Mumbai’s audiences are in for a splendid night at the opera.

The SOI Spring 2017 Season starts this evening. Visit bookmyshow for details.

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