Europe in Ferrara

The MCO’s oldest home is in Ferrara. George Edelman, Artistic Director of Ferrara Musica, speaks about plans for the future.

The MCO has been orchestra-in-residence in Ferrara since 1998, and plans for the residence collaboration exist far into the future. Which projects in the coming years can visitors and residents of Ferrara particularly look forward to?
George Edelman: In the immediate future, we’ll have the 2nd act of Tristan und Isolde with Harding and a great cast of singers, including Waltraud Meier, at the beginning of 2009/10 season. It’s a special project as Harding has wanted to do Tristan in Ferrara for a long time and in the theatre it was not possible, so we are happy to present it in a concert form within our season. In 2010 there is the concert with Seiji Ozawa in February, a concert that was in the making for a very long time and is finally coming to realization. Not to mention the concert with Esa-Pekka Salonen that has been in discussion for even longer. It features the premiere of his Violin Concerto, dedicated to Leila Josefowicz, who is of course playing it. And in April we are planning a big project with Claudio Abbado: we have plans for different projects with Claudio Abbado each spring for several years to come.

The MCO carries out many different kinds of projects in Ferrara: large opera projects with Claudio Abbado, symphony concerts with Daniel Harding and other well known conductors, and also first encounters with exciting young soloists and conductors. What else takes place, especially in the context of the residence? How would you describe the particular special role of the orches­tra-in-residence in Ferrara?
George Edelman: During the MCO residence in Ferrara, our plans are to develop a series of events in different venues in the city – outside the theatre – designed to spread the awareness of the presence of an important international orchestra, especially among the students of Ferrara’s University. Our goal here would be a long term investment in educating a future generation of concert-goers by awakening their curiosity for classical music. Our hope is that the presence of an international orchestra highly motivated and dedicated to classical music and to making music together would be appealing for a younger audience.

The political situation for cultural institutions in Italy is not easy, and it is now becoming even more critical due to the financial crisis. How does Ferrara Musica react to this situation and what role can/does the orchestra play?
George Edelman: Ferrara Musica was created by Claudio Abbado to make it possible for a young European orchestra to have its home in Italy; thus the major part of the season is dedicated to residence projects. During the past 20 years this has become not only a tradition of Ferrara Musica but also what sets it apart from other concert seasons in the country. The residence projects that were produced in Ferrara, often in collaboration with Teatro Comunale di Ferrara, were very often taken on tour to different European countries. Our hope is that politicians of all parties will keep in mind that these unique characteristics distinguish Ferrara Musica and secure its very special place as a concert institution of truly European dimensions.

Do you also see the MCO as an ambassador for Ferrara, with its culturally rich history?
George Edelman: Ferrara is not the only city in Italy with a rich cultural history and many of them are well known without the presence of an international orchestra. What I think is important in the relation­ship between the city of Ferrara and the MCO is the continuity of Ferrara’s exceptional musical past that lives on in its tradition of welcoming internationally acclaimed musicians, being enriched by them and, in turn, enriching and inspiring them by its history and generosity.

Which piece or opera would you most like to hear the MCO play?
George Edelman: This is a very interesting question, but it’s difficult to respond because there are so many things that I would like to hear, and it depends on who the conductor is. I would for instance love to hear Bruckner’s Eighth with Claudio Abbado or a Rameau opera con­ducted by William Christie. And Berg’s Lulu with Daniel Harding.

Residenza Italiana Mahler Chamber Orchestra