To Cassi the Prize Salmi “Now let’s imitate Vienna” – Chronicle
by Claudio Santori
Starting 24 years ago with a performance of Bohème at the Petrarca Theater, the Arezzo baritone Mario Cassi is today a reference voice in opera, sought after by theaters on five continents. And it is to him that the Friends of Monuments Brigade today delivers the “Mario Salmi” 2022 Prize to the Mumec in via Ricasoli for the closure of Dante’s celebrations, which is awarded to entities or personalities who have proved to be highly qualified meritorious of the city.
What impression did the announcement of this ceremony make on you?
“I am proudly proud of this award. In mine I have always tried to practice my profession as a cultural mission aimed at exciting and awakening in the public the love for great music. With 24 years of dazzling career behind me, it is perhaps the time to take stock.
“I sang in the most important theaters in the world, but perhaps the most exciting and beautiful moments of my career were the evenings lived in my city, such as those for the Red Cross charity at the Petrarca Theater, organized by the Garden Club, and those at “Amphitheater”.
Because?
“Because I saw in those evenings an enormous number of people united for one evening beyond and above socio-cultural and political differences, living with me a spiritual musical journey done together. Because a concert is never a performance made for the public, but a moment of strong emotional complicity between the public and the artists “.
In short, Arezzo always in the heart?
“Absolutely. In recent years the human and professional bond with my city has grown enormously. And it is a unique emotion to bring cultural and musical projects to Arezzo like those they are used to doing in cities with prestigious and historically authoritative “. And now, what prospects?
“Well, my dreams as a boy I have made them all and in fact often the reality has been more generous than the dream. In the coming months I will sing at the Melbourne Festival and again at the Sydney Opera House where in January I was enthusiastic about the welcoming wedding. Figaro. Then they wait for me at the Verona Arena, at the Zurich Opera House, at the Hong Kong Festival and at the Nice Opera with Rossini, Verdi, Cilea and Puccini “.
A dream?
“To bring to Arezzo musical emotions that are normally experienced in Vienna as in the Arena of Verona or at the Metropolitan. Perhaps it is a dream, but be careful, that I have made my dreams come true”