“I conquered Vienna, it’s a dream come true”
PORTO RECANATI – On that stage, dominated by the magnificent golden organ, David Crescenzi received thunderous applause from the Viennese public, one of the most demanding. The Maestro from the Marches, born in 1968, made his debut last week, at the head of the Form, in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna, the temple where the Wiener Philharmoniker inaugurate in music every new year. Chapeau. An important stage in his career.
What sensations?
“Looking back, tears still come to my eyes. The first impact with the organization, of Habsburg seriousness, strengthened our concentration. I got excited, entering the dressing room, covered with photos of those who preceded me, sacred monsters of the management. And on the evening of the concert, I was stunned to see an interminable line of spectators in front of the door waiting to enter ».
panic?
“No, awareness: when you see so many people queuing for your performance, you feel responsible for what you will be able to offer them.”
Then, once inside …
“Going up on that stage has a certain effect. You seem to have the whole audience, very close, “on” your shoulders. I sensed the critical curiosity on the skin. It was the formidable symphony from “Cinderella”, the second song, that melted hearts. And when Lorenzo Di Bella concluded his solo performance in Chopin’s Andante spianato and Grande Polacca, I understood from the enthusiastic reaction that he conquered the public ».
A crescendo.
«When I entered the podium, after the interval, a warm applause gave me wings for Mendelssohn’s symphony. Al, an ovation, with four calls, brought me back to myself: I started joking with the spectators, between one encore and another. And then I thought back to when, as a child, I listened to concerts from Vienna on the radio. I can’t be sure that one day I too, as director, should enter this mythical place ».
Did you already feel then that music would be your life?
«I was 10 years old when my grandmother enrolled me in a musical orientation course, held with the band from my town, Porto Recanati. I played the trumpet, and the director Elio Corvatta, who passed away too soon, told my parents that I had a talent for music, he invited them to enroll me in the piano course at the Conservatory of Fermo. Later, I would become the director of that band myself. ‘
From the direction of the band body of a small town in the Marche to the exhibition at the Musikverein, the road does not seem short or easy.
«Step by step, how I do everything. As a pianist, I liked to accompany singers, never soloist, with humility. I’m certainly not an enfant prodige: I started directing when I was 30. As Muti says, to learn you have to stay a lot on the wood of the stage. And I am proud of my givetta: choirmaster in Genoa, Naples and Macerata, I replaced “kid” conductors, who at the last moment, out of anxiety, gave up forfeits. Many and different formative experiences in Italy ».
Then, Cairo. How did it get there?
«Alessio Vlad, whom I had met in Fermo, asked me in 1998 to prepare the orchestra and singers for a“ Barber ”that he was to conduct at the Cairo Opera. That was how the Egyptians fell in love with me; and I of one of them, the soprano Rasha Talaat. And I married her. Then, in 2002, they entrusted me with a great production of “Aida”, in Quatar, in Doha. The orchestra was made up of the best performers from Romania. The head of the Bucharest theater was looking for an “Italian-style” conductor. And so began my other adventure in Romania, which continues to this day, as director of the Cluj-Napoca Opera ».
Now in Romania, until May. Will he be back to direct the Form soon?
«A 19-year partnership continues with them. It is a mission: to bring young people to the theater, to listen to great music ».
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