Seventy artistes will celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of opera composer Giuseppe Verdi. Conductor of the opera Marco Balderi spoke to Karan Bhardwaj
The sporadic silence at the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre was broken by the soulful notes of a 16-member orchestra, comfortably settled for the rehearsals in a large room. The open windows unfurled the melody outwards to fetch the attention of those sipping cappuccinos at the peaceful green canteen area of the centre. Inside, Italy’s well-known opera conductor Marco Balderi directed the entourage, now and then, to catch the correct tunes. A smile on his face expressed his satisfaction. Balderi was rehearsing for past few days to conduct an opera concert in the Capital in honour of legendary Giuseppe Verdi’s 200th birth anniversary. The musical gala, which will include popular choruses such as Va pensiero (Nabucco) and Anvil chorus (Il Trovatore), will take place today at the Kamani Auditorium. Balderi is elated to be back in India after eight years. “It’s great! last time, I loved the audience. I had performed with French musicians for Neemrana Foundation. This time, my expectations are even higher. There’s so much change in air. I can see the excitement,” he said. Accompanying him, there are eight Italian musicians for the opera, which will see a symphony by over 70 artistes. It is is poised to create magic. “During the last concert, Indian choir was at learning stage. This time, they are fantastic. There will be amagamation of seven Indian voices and one Italian tenor,” he said.
Many of Verdi’s arias count among the greatest songs ever written. “He dominated the world of Italian opera from the first considerable success in 1842 with Nabucco, until his final opera, Falstaff, staged at la Scala, Milan in 1893,” he said.
During the conversatioin, Balderi, all dressed in black, did encourage Indian tenors. He understands opera is not unfused in Indian culture but he finds Indians “excellent at techniques. The only thing is to correct certain style. like, Bel canto style of singing is quite difficult. Even Italians find it difficult to master it,” he suggested. Born in Seravezza, Balderi completed his studies in piano at the l Boccherini Musical Institute of lucca, before entering the l Cherubini Conservatory of Florence, where he obtained the diplomas of choir conductor, harpsichord and organ. He assisted many popular conductors such as C Abbado, Z Mehta and W Sawallisch. Ask him about his experience with Zubin Mehta, he said, “I assisted him 15 years ago. Once he asked me to conduct the concert in Florence. I was taken aback but it was moment of a lifetime. He has a fantastic memory too. He spotted me in the audience many years after I left him. He looked at me and said, ‘Marco, what are you doing hereIJ’ He is a great diplomat,” he said.
So far, he has conducted 200 orchestras and studied a wide repertoire 300 of operas. But Balderi says operas are a passe. “They are finished. Masters’ works enthralled the audience for years but the audience is accustomed to popular means of entertainment now like cinema and TV,” he said.
Though he is “curious” about Indian music and intruments, he calls Bollywood music boring. “Bollywood is creating waves worldwide. People are crazy for Hindi songs in Milano, but I think it’s without ideas. Bollywood melodies touch sentiments but I get bored after two minites,”he said. The opera is staged by the Embassy of Italy, its Cultural Centre and ICCR.