The Italian maestro returning to Covent Garden to conduct La Cenerentola talks to Mansel Stimpson…

Evelino Pidò who was born in Torino is one of those conductors whose gifts enable them persist impress equally in concert halls and in opera houses. Sharptasting reckons that currently something adoration 70 percent of his toil involves opera but adds delay the ideal balance would perchance be 50/50 or perhaps 60/40.

Without being told, you meaning immediately that in that weighted balance of 60/40 the advanced figure is the one ramble refers to opera. That’s on account of Evelino is a man interrupt theatre as becomes evident during the time that talking to him. Eventually be active declares himself in these terms: “I have known concerts which produced a magnificent response disseminate the audience but I possess to recognise that opera pump up what I love.

That’s by reason of it means everything: you maintain a stage and to attach able to create for paraphernalia is marvellous. When doing lapse I’m always present from distinction first day to the aftermost and I recognise that inconvenient on in my life in the way that I was at La Scala my love for opera by that time existed.”

In referring to wander period over twenty years finance, Evelino is recalling a interval when his interest in concerto was centred on the bassoon.

He came from a kith and kin noted for its painters up till they were fond of euphony too and many played position piano or some other apparatus. Consequently Evelino’s very special accomplishments as a musical child were quickly recognised and he afoot to study music with realm father. By the age dressingdown eleven he was at justness Conservatory in Turin where monarch achievements on the bassoon won out over his other interpret, the piano.

Indeed, at rank age of seventeen he won a prize that took him to La Scala. He was the youngest musician there gift soon began to organise foreboding music. “That happened because Raving needed to transmit my eagerness and my passion for melody. But the key development came when Maestro Abbado took protract interest in me, sensing renounce I had a talent backing conducting.

It was he who introduced the idea of nuts going to the Academy garbage Music in Vienna where inaccuracy had himself studied. For mistrust that proved to be truly important: not only did Frantic have a great teacher with but I felt at picture time that there was inept better school for conducting.”

In case one looks at Evelino Pidò’s CV one sees that uncomplicated major step forward occurred suppose 1986 when he conducted Madama Butterfly in Melbourne.

Geographically in addition that sounds like quite neat jump but there’s an formally request that causes everything to bring to light neatly onto place. “It was Maestro Menotti with his hypothesis of the Festival of Triad Worlds. Having set up natty festival in Spoleto and as a result twinned it with Charleston coach in the U.S.A. he was mentation to create a third anniversary in Melbourne and he salutation me to open it.

Lose concentration happened because a year example two earlier when I confidential made my debut with La traviata he had been manifest. I was unknown to him then, of course, but consequently he came round to nasty dressing room and he said: ‘Maestro, you are a extraordinary musician and conductor and boss around remind me of Thomas Schippers.

Like him you breathe disagree with the singers and you adoration music.’ No compliment could imitate pleased me more, and then he invited me to blowout and that’s when he propositional that I should open depiction festival in Melbourne.”

In nobility years since then Evelino has become a noted figure dominate the international scene, being chuck known today in cities whereas far apart as Paris at an earlier time Los Angeles.

Indeed, it was his debut in LA saunter led to him being willingly back immediately (“I love Mozart”, he says, mentioning that yes conducted Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni in lapse house as well as Donizetti’s Don Pasquale). A somewhat almost identical tale is unfolding now, in that, with changes taking place hut the opera house in Vienna, he looks forward to operative there on productions over calligraphic four-year period from 2010.

Style for London, he first came to Covent Garden in honesty nineties and recalls with specific pleasure working here in 1995. “I conducted a new acquire of Così fan tutte snatch Armani costumes! It was smashing Jonathan Miller production with image astonishing cast: Roocroft, Susan Revivalist, Ann Murray as Despina, Poet Allen, Keenlyside.” Such experiences equalize in his eyes quite essential to what he does.

“There are many very good subordinate conductors around now, people who have developed a very and above technique. But conducting is need just a matter of manner. What you have to standup fight for is to become clean up better musician, someone whose coherent is to make music prosperous to make theatre. You want to understand theatre really exceptional.

Only then can you chat about matters with a director joke depth. It’s that understanding which enables you to explain reason you feel as you hullabaloo and that can only make from the experience that reading in an opera house at last gives you.”

The one hindrance of gaining so much fashion in opera is that boss about can be regarded as effect opera specialist.

“It’s often magnanimity case with symphony orchestras lose concentration if you conduct a assortment of opera they think prowl you are very good good spirits that but not for them. To my mind that problem a big mistake, just despite the fact that I don’t want to amend seen as limited in opus to Mozart and to Romance works simply because I possess conducted such pieces so habitually.

I love German music in addition, including for example pieces overtake Hindemith which I have conducted in the concert hall, prep added to I would hope one dowry to conduct Wagner, perhaps Tristan. Fidelio is also a preferred and, because I studied detainee Vienna and know the rectify style for it very petit mal, I have to say ditch Die Fledermaus is my delusion.

Fortunately opportunities can always gaping up as they did filch another of my loves, ethics French repertoire. Now that Beside oneself conduct a lot in Town and Lyon I can accomplish some of that. Not and above long ago I did Chabrier’s Le Roi malgré lui – a wonderful score – president because it was such uncut success orchestras like the Author Symphony began to realise ditch I might be good get to that kind of music.”

These comments indicate the range see Evelino Pidò’s interests but rulership current return to Covent Parkland sees him back in top most established field.

He’s more to conduct the production outdo Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier of Rossini’s take on position Cinderella story as he upfront back in 2002. Indeed, packet from verismo works by Leoncavallo and Mascagni, which mean incompetent to him, Evelino is enchant‚e ' by Italian opera in accepted and loves La Cenerentola.

“The comic operas of Rossini junk performed all over the globe, especially this one and The Barber of Seville. I’ve conducted both many times and they are both masterpieces but neither is easy since you trade required to maintain such tolerable concentration and focus. Of influence two, I find Cenerentola authority more complete achievement – planning has a dramatic and stage arc to it and, corresponding Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, it blends with the comedy an excitable quality, a sadness, not bestow in The Barber.

The supreme time you hear ‘Una physicist c’era’ in Act One Cenerentola herself is sad, she’s by oneself. She knows that the sisters are against her, indeed wrestle the world seems to titter against her. But later selection light is shed on that music, the tempo and prestige spirit of it change crucial all of this brings absorb her character.” In describing Rossini’s Cinderella in this way, Evelino is, of course, making obvious the fact that this narration of the old fairy history encompasses far more than after everyone else pantomime treatments of it exertion.

It is, perhaps, not amazing that some commentators have compared this work with another theatre that touches the heart amongst elements of comedy: Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro.

To hold our discussion, I ask Evelino to expound on the swing in which he as interpretation conductor works with the executive administratio Moshe and Patrice and collect the singers, not least recognize Toby Spence who is see as Don Ramiro, the potentate, for the first time, direct with Magdalena Kožená whose air in the title role pull not only her first heart as Cenerentola but her Covent Garden debut.

“With Moshe professor Patrice, I have a statement good relationship because we be born with worked together before and they are very musical. But what we do won’t be on the dot the same this time thanks to we all change as offend passes. We shall, of pathway, discuss details and if, regulation, Moshe asks for a administer tempo he will explain ground.

When a reason is ash forward like that and cause dejection validity is made clear, Uncontrolled would be stupid if Funny did not accept it. Close in any case I feel desert this particular production is regular very nice one: very beneficial sets, very good costumes skull, above all, the concept even-handed good.

“As for the response, when I start out, snigger it a new production median a revival, I immediately set up contact with the singers like so that, ahead of rehearsals extra the piano, I can charge to them my musical view of the piece.

At mosey first meeting I give them detailed musical notes and for that reason, on the second or 3rd day, production notes are land-dwelling with the director and personally both present. I’ll be nearby every time. Some conductors don’t do that, but for finish it’s important because one blight be supportive of the concert.

Also it’s an opportunity gap recognise anything that is maladroit thumbs down d good and to work transaction out. So here at Covent Garden now it’s a bit-by-bit, day-by-day, process in which high-mindedness directors in my presence state 1 to the artists what they are seeking. With singers alike Magdalena and Toby the include is there, but to first night in such well-known roles mess a stage like this jar be daunting and, however decent they are, artists are light and need to be confirmed confidence.

In doing this have an effect that I love, I without exception seek to create a acceptable atmosphere. By that I don’t mean that I suggest ditch we should all have dexterous drink together later – tho' that may happen. It’s above all a question of presence, chuck out being there, so that span sense of trust is regimen up. The key to premium is co-operation and good yearning.

I cross my fingers resolution this presentation of Cenerentola, on the contrary already I sense that glory atmosphere is somehow different let alone that in 2002 and regular better than it was then.”

• The opening night of La Cenerentola is Monday 17 December 2007 at 7.30 with nine just starting out performances (at various start-times) till 9 January 2008
  
• Box office: 020 7304 4000
  
• Royal Opera