Thirteen times Theaters of Siena. Benvenuti talks about the city of the Palio and its creature: “Certain of existing”
SIENA – «For the first time the Municipality of Siena, by the will of its mayor and mine, who accepted the invitation of the mayor De Mossi, produces one of his shows. What better occasion to start the season than to present to the city the first born of my collaboration with the Siena theaters? ».
The artistic director’s question Alessandro Welcome an explanation is also needed because on November 19, the 2021 – ’22 season begins at the Teatro dei Rinnovati with the debut of ‘Certi di existence’, «my creature», adds the artist. Replies, always at 9 pm, on the 20th; November 21 at 5pm. The billboard continues until April bringing classic actors from the great theater to the stage, such as Silvio Orlando, Monica Guerritore, Giuseppe Cederna, others.
Does ‘Sure of existing’ consolidate your relationship with Siena?
«A theater that does not produce culture but only conveys it by limiting itself to hosting proposals from others, in my opinion, is a half theater. A place that does not fully exploit its potential. Living and working for a long time in Siena, for me and for Chiara, my irreplaceable soul mate, was a unique opportunity to better understand the essence of the place and of the people who live there, so as to thoroughly explore its charms, vices and virtue”.
An important bill, all the more so because since 2020 the emergency has prevented the Theaters of Siena from being fully expressed, especially in terms of the relationship with the public. The season of rebirth?
«Even in passing. Whether it is a rebirth will also depend on how, with our choices as citizens, we will be able to behave in order not to be conditioned by the pandemic again. Surely an important billboard for names and for what symbolic it proposes. The names are in the program; for ‘Welcome to Casa Gori’, I refer to the titles ‘Certi di exist’, a promise to exist, and to ‘Benvenuti in Casa Gori’: it was supposed to be a tribute to the city of Siena in the previous Christmas, it closes this season of the Rinnovati with the I hope that the next one will be less problematic to organize. I remember, incidentally, that the ‘Gori’ will be rearranged only for Siena. I hope it is not a small effort that will be taken as a demonstration of affection for the city ».
‘We have reserved a special place for you’, a billboard with thirteen titles: a common thread?
«Only the quality. There were shows and artists skipped in the previous two seasons to make up for; moreover, in defining agreements with theater companies, we had to compete with national and private realities much faster than a municipal theater like ours. So, at times we have had to chase after titles and artists whose calendars are just running out. In spite of this, we have managed to pack, I believe, a very respectable billboard in terms of names and quality. The hope is above all to return to complete normalcy soon to work with less trouble. I would like to remind you that we are still a very very young theater, having only started growing on our own legs a year and a half ago. It would be desirable that everyone did not forget it ».
You have been the artistic director of the Teatri di Siena since 2019, the first to have covered this role. In your opinion, the advantage for the city and, with a view to mutual exchange, what has Siena given to Alessandro Benvenuti?
“What the city has given me is not yet fully quantifiable. The sums are drawn in the end. For now – Benvenuti presents a positive ‘provisional’ list – here is what I can say I have received: the unconditional affection and trust of a mayor whom I hope not to betray; an access permit to the center that allows me to park in Piazza del Mercato and – Benvenuti confirms his style – for someone who comes from Pelago, it is a lust to drive from Piazza del Campo; the esteem and self-denial of female and male employees who, despite being part-time, often remain in their place, exceeding the hours because there is so much work; the smiles that the ladies of the municipal concierge give me, those in the offices on the ground floor and fourth floor; greetings from the brigade and health and ecological operators; the jokes of the patrons of the bars I frequent and they tell me ‘Manager you are the’ best! ‘, to which I reply’ I’ll know! ‘, without believing too much. Then the people on the street that I now now like one of them! Enough, come on! I couldn’t name them all. Forgive me those I have not mentioned. I’m just a human being, that is, something very, very limited. “
The agreement with the Teatro della Pergola? Other partnerships?
«For the Pergola, the future will also depend on the mutual satisfaction of this first experience with the hope of developing other projects. We are also working on new partnerships ».
The Teatro dei Rozzi?
«I have never made a secret of my affection for that place. In 2023, the Municipality and the Accademia dei Rozzi around a table, and talk about it. Here I stop because it is not a matter of my competence ».
The programs, the future of the Siena theaters?
“If I could see the future, I’d be a fortune teller by trade. Generally, actions fought when they bring joy and contentment to those who carry them out together. These first three years, shortly before this deadline, have been in many ways a real suffering. With a spirit of resistance, irrationality and a pinch of healthy madness at times, we managed to get almost unscathed this far. I say almost, because the nerves of many of those who have responsibilities in the company – from the theaters office to the technical team – have been severely tested by the countless and unexpected novelties that fate has given us, since the day I assumed the artistic direction. The will to do, I really do not lack. So what I can say most sensibly is that as long as enthusiasm, common sense and intelligence guide us, problems will always find their solutions. So all that remains is to put ourselves at the window to understand what this future will be like “(www.teatridisiena.it)