Violinist Mira Benjamin
Concert at Palazzo Ducale in Mantua
Violinist Caroline ChéhadéAll pictures by Francesco Sanfilippo, www.casalmaggiorefestival.com
Casalmaggiore is a small and quiet town in Northern Italy, placed on the stream of the river Po, surrounded by corn fields and at a short distance from many historical and little known pearls. From 12 years, in the month of july, it is home for about 70 young and talented musicians and for their teachers, involved in the Casalmaggiore International Festival. It's a great occasion for intensive artistic training and for live performances, in order to prepare these young musicians for the world concert stages; it's an interesting and valuable festival indeed, strongly animated and supported by Francesco Sanfilippo, culture counsellor for the municipality of Casalmaggiore, but also fact totum of this genuine event. Most of the students come from abroad, many from Canada and USA. If you take some minutes and visit the festival website you can get the impression of the true spirit which lives in it. I think it's a great initiative for a country- Italy- in which classical music is poorly considered. Thus, it's a pity that so little resonance to the event is given on the italian newspapers.
The programme of the Festival includes 40 concerts on the 20 days it lasts. The beating hearth is Casalmaggiore, where the students stay during this period, attend their lessons and play in the Santa Chiara chapel (part of the complex where they are accomodated), in a concert hall and in the gracious small old Theatre. But some concerts are held in precious historical gems nearby: the Palazzo Ducale in Mantua; the "Teatro all'Antica" in Sabbioneta (dated 1590); the House of Music in Parma, one of the capitals of italian opera; a concert hall in Cremona, city of the greatest violin makers of all times; an 18th century villa in Cella Dati; the medieval castle of San Lorenzo Picenardi; a magnificent palace in San Secondo Parmense.
We have been at a number of concerts: a delighting experience during summer nights. The atmosphere is youthful and joyful: you breathe the true passion for music, you can sense the enthusiasm and the dedication of this young artists. You can take a deep breath of pure air, among the poisonous mists that spread from the evening headlines: it's conforting to see these young people, united by the values of music.
The overall quality of the performances is good. We have been particularly impressed by two young violinists: should we lead a musical major we would invite them at least for an audition! Mira Benjamin impressed us with her clear and secure performance of the Elgar's Sonata. Caroline Chéhadé revealed a great talent performing in a both sweet and powerful manner the Sibelius' violin concert. We woluld like to listen them in a theatre, with an orchestra: the impression is they are very talented.
The programme of the Festival includes 40 concerts on the 20 days it lasts. The beating hearth is Casalmaggiore, where the students stay during this period, attend their lessons and play in the Santa Chiara chapel (part of the complex where they are accomodated), in a concert hall and in the gracious small old Theatre. But some concerts are held in precious historical gems nearby: the Palazzo Ducale in Mantua; the "Teatro all'Antica" in Sabbioneta (dated 1590); the House of Music in Parma, one of the capitals of italian opera; a concert hall in Cremona, city of the greatest violin makers of all times; an 18th century villa in Cella Dati; the medieval castle of San Lorenzo Picenardi; a magnificent palace in San Secondo Parmense.
We have been at a number of concerts: a delighting experience during summer nights. The atmosphere is youthful and joyful: you breathe the true passion for music, you can sense the enthusiasm and the dedication of this young artists. You can take a deep breath of pure air, among the poisonous mists that spread from the evening headlines: it's conforting to see these young people, united by the values of music.
The overall quality of the performances is good. We have been particularly impressed by two young violinists: should we lead a musical major we would invite them at least for an audition! Mira Benjamin impressed us with her clear and secure performance of the Elgar's Sonata. Caroline Chéhadé revealed a great talent performing in a both sweet and powerful manner the Sibelius' violin concert. We woluld like to listen them in a theatre, with an orchestra: the impression is they are very talented.
