“When I was young, I had the big goal to change the world through music. Now I’m still young, but not as young as 20 years ago—and I don't think that I can change the world ...but through music, I and the orchestra together can change the heart and the mind of people and we can touch them. If we get to this result, people will change and will cooperate to change the world for better.”
Gianandrea Noseda January 2024
The 2023-24 National Symphony Orchestra season is dedicated to celebrating music director Gianandrea Noseda’s 60th birthday year, and accordingly divides the season into 3 “Acts”.
Act I: Gianandrea’s Roots
Featuring works by Italian, Russian and American Composers connected to Noseda’s artistic roots in Italy, St. Peterburg, and the US.
Act II: Gianandrea’s Friends
Gil Shaham, Hilary Hahn, Seong-Jin Cho, James Ehnes, and others celebrating their connection with Maestro Noseda over the years.
Violinist Hilary Hahn and pianist Seong-Jin Cho accompanied him on his first international tour with the NSO: “It’s very important to travel outside home, to be ambassadors of the beauty of music, of art and trying in difficult times to bring people together.” They visited 9 cities, traveling to Spain and Germany and culminating in a concert at La Scala in his native Milan. “It is a big honor for me to take the National Symphony orchestra to my hometown in La Scala. So if I think that not long ago, I was a student at the Milan Conservatorio where I conducted the La Scala Orchestra and Opera, but the National Symphony Orchestra there gives me a lot of pride.” He and the NSO were acclaimed with a standing ovation (a rare event at La Scala). One woman I overheard at the concert told a friend that she had come to Milan from Zurich where Noseda is the General Music Director at the Opera House, so she could see him on stage rather than in the pit!
Maestro Noseda is equally at home in opera and orchestra, and we can look forward to:
Act III: Launching new opera-in-concert series
Presenting Verdi’s Otello this June. And next season, Barber’s Vanessa. And if you’re lucky enough to go to Zurich in May, Maestro Noseda will be conducting two Wagner Ring Cycles.
Speaking of cycles, one of the NSO’s great achievements is the release in February of their recording of the 9 Beethoven symphonies. Maestro Noseda reflected on his approach to this monumental task: “I tried to put myself on the side. It’s impossible because I’m in front of the orchestra, but I try to make as much as I could, Beethoven speak. 20 years ago, it was 70% Noseda and 30% Beethoven. Now I like to think that it is at least 60% of Beethoven and 40% of Noseda, but I wish if the Noseda percentage is even smaller, I will be happier.”
“I am honored that the National Symphony Orchestra has chosen to celebrate my 60th birthday throughout this season. My life has been dedicated to music and without the incredible artists by whom I am surrounded—from the NSO to many friends and colleagues—I would not be here today. The program we have crafted is a journey through my many music ‘acts’ with a focus on what I love doing at home and on the podium: story –telling.”
Tantissimi auguri, Maestro, from all of us here at WETA Classical. We look forward to Act IV.
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