Carlo Rizzi: I do hope to catch a show of Indian music in Mumbai

Carlo Rizzi

conducts the orchestra for the opera, The Flying Dutchman. Pic courtesy/Neil Bennett

Spring is almost here, and so is the Spring 2017 season of the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI). Kicking off today with an international line-up of artistes, the focus for this season is opera.

In the coming weeks, the National Centre for the Performing Arts and the SOI will present a new take on Giacomo Puccini's classic opera, La Boheme, through three performances. And, who better to conduct one of the greatest compositions of Italian opera than an Italian conductor? Renowned conductor Carlo Rizzi, who is in demand as guest artiste at the world's most prestigious venues and festivals, will conduct one of the performances of La Boheme Revisited, in the city, while associate music director of SOI, Zane Dalal, will lead the other two.

Carlo Rizzi

Rizzi will also conduct La Boheme at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, this season. He begins his maiden visit to India by opening the season today with Beethoven's 5th Symphony and works by Wagner and Strauss. He will also lead an opera gala on the second day of the season, featuring tenor Simon O'Neill and soprano Maria Jose Siri. We spoke to the 56-year-old conductor when he was recently in Denmark for a concert, all ready to visit Mumbai. edited excerpts from a telephone
interview.

How did your visit to India come about?
When I was approached by the organisers, I heard a CD of the SOI's works and felt it was a good orchestra. I heard them some more on YouTube and thought it would be interesting to create music with them. A violinist travels with his violin, as does a pianist. But, for a conductor, it means working with an entirely new orchestra every time, which is exciting. If it works well, it could even lead to future collaborations.

Tell us about your new production, La Boheme.
While nothing changes with the opera's music, before each act, we will present readings from Henri Murger's original novel, Scenes de la vie de boheme, on the lives and loves of young artists in the Bohemian quarter of Paris, that inspired the opera. Isn't it wonderful to know what led to the making of a masterpiece?

You will be in India for two weeks. Any travel plans?
Unfortunately, I won't be travelling, which is a pity, as I have to rush back to the UK [where he is based]. But, I have heard maestro Zubin Mehta and Pandit Ravishankar in concerts, and I do hope to catch a show of Indian music in Mumbai.

I also love Indian food, though I will become enormous if I eat it every day (laughs)! I hope to savour some Tandoori Murg, though.