CHRISTIAN DELISO
CONDUCTOR / MUSIC DIRECTOR "CAPRI OPERA FESTIVAL"
"Art is the only way to forget that one day we are going to die. It’s joy."
Christian Deliso is a conductor and the musical director of the "Capri Opera Festival" and also a successful pianist who leads an international career. He is a conductor who respects the singers, who, in his own words, are "the real protagonists of the opera", and he is an artist who loves nature and life, as much as he loves art, the "joy in his life".
By @kassandra_dimopoulou_official
By @kassandra_dimopoulou_official
Scalea, 23/07/2020
How did you became a conductor?
My teacher in Chigiana Academy in Siena, Gianluigi Gelmetti, once told me: “If you are conductor inside, you will be conductor". I think it s true. When i was 11 years old I listened to the “Moonlight sonata” by L. Van Beethoven and I said to my mother: “I will become a conductor”.
What does it mean, to be an opera conductor?
To help the singers, who are the real protagonists of the opera, as much as possible. Many colleagues think that the conductor is the protagonist, a “deus ex machina”, but it s not true. The singers are on the stage, while the conductor is in the dark, mystic hole, the orchestra pit.
Who is your favourite opera composer and why?
Puccini. I think he draws the perfect portrait of the Italian passion. He wrote the best arias in the world. I was very proud when, during lockdown, all countries used the aria “Nessun dorma" (from Puccini’s opera “Turandot”) to say to the people that "everything will be good". When I was 15 years old, I remember, I went to Torre del Lago and I prayed to Puccini’s monument to be a conductor… so, I feel very connected to him.
Is Italy still the "mother" of opera?
No, absolutely not. Our government does not understand the power of the opera. The cultural level in Italy at the moment is actually very low. Does the Italian public following and loving opera? Italian public loves opera but not as much as in the past, when the opera was heard and singed in all parts of society: aristocratic, middle cast and also farmers!
If you could change something in the opera world today, what would this be?
I would change the way of nominating artistic directors and intendants. They have to be artists of the opera because only they can understand the problems of the opera.
How was the idea of the "Opera Star Awards" (Oscar della Lirica) born?
It started in 2010 by Alfredo Troisi. I am their music director since 2 years and I want to thank Laura Troisi and Enrico Stinchelli for having chosen me. They really changed my career.
Tell us about the "Capri Opera Festival" and its activities so far.
Capri Opera Festival started 10 years ago. After a break of 6 years, we restarted in 2019 with Puccini's opera “Gianni Schicchi”. In the near future, Capri wants to be a meeting point for artistic directors but also the place where young singers get the chance to go on stage. A fantastic team is working on this dream, the “Yes Crea Society”: Pasquale Amato is the artistic director, Domenico Di Frenna is the marketing director, and Lucio Falconio is our president.
How is the summer 2020 proceeding?
I’ m already organising the 2021 season but right now I am also studying for “Pagliacci” in September 2020 in Capri and “Rigoletto” in October 2020 in Varna Opera House.
How is the COVID19 period affecting your artistic life?
I played the piano before, I play the piano now and I will play piano in future. But, in this period, I discovered the real friendship.
Future plans?
“I Pagliacci” in Capri, “Il Rigoletto” in Varna, “Oscar della Lirica” 2021, many concerts in St Petersburg and another 32 concerts (in 50 days!) in China.
Art is…
… the only way to forget that one day we are going to die. It’s joy.
My teacher in Chigiana Academy in Siena, Gianluigi Gelmetti, once told me: “If you are conductor inside, you will be conductor". I think it s true. When i was 11 years old I listened to the “Moonlight sonata” by L. Van Beethoven and I said to my mother: “I will become a conductor”.
What does it mean, to be an opera conductor?
To help the singers, who are the real protagonists of the opera, as much as possible. Many colleagues think that the conductor is the protagonist, a “deus ex machina”, but it s not true. The singers are on the stage, while the conductor is in the dark, mystic hole, the orchestra pit.
Who is your favourite opera composer and why?
Puccini. I think he draws the perfect portrait of the Italian passion. He wrote the best arias in the world. I was very proud when, during lockdown, all countries used the aria “Nessun dorma" (from Puccini’s opera “Turandot”) to say to the people that "everything will be good". When I was 15 years old, I remember, I went to Torre del Lago and I prayed to Puccini’s monument to be a conductor… so, I feel very connected to him.
Is Italy still the "mother" of opera?
No, absolutely not. Our government does not understand the power of the opera. The cultural level in Italy at the moment is actually very low. Does the Italian public following and loving opera? Italian public loves opera but not as much as in the past, when the opera was heard and singed in all parts of society: aristocratic, middle cast and also farmers!
If you could change something in the opera world today, what would this be?
I would change the way of nominating artistic directors and intendants. They have to be artists of the opera because only they can understand the problems of the opera.
How was the idea of the "Opera Star Awards" (Oscar della Lirica) born?
It started in 2010 by Alfredo Troisi. I am their music director since 2 years and I want to thank Laura Troisi and Enrico Stinchelli for having chosen me. They really changed my career.
Tell us about the "Capri Opera Festival" and its activities so far.
Capri Opera Festival started 10 years ago. After a break of 6 years, we restarted in 2019 with Puccini's opera “Gianni Schicchi”. In the near future, Capri wants to be a meeting point for artistic directors but also the place where young singers get the chance to go on stage. A fantastic team is working on this dream, the “Yes Crea Society”: Pasquale Amato is the artistic director, Domenico Di Frenna is the marketing director, and Lucio Falconio is our president.
How is the summer 2020 proceeding?
I’ m already organising the 2021 season but right now I am also studying for “Pagliacci” in September 2020 in Capri and “Rigoletto” in October 2020 in Varna Opera House.
How is the COVID19 period affecting your artistic life?
I played the piano before, I play the piano now and I will play piano in future. But, in this period, I discovered the real friendship.
Future plans?
“I Pagliacci” in Capri, “Il Rigoletto” in Varna, “Oscar della Lirica” 2021, many concerts in St Petersburg and another 32 concerts (in 50 days!) in China.
Art is…
… the only way to forget that one day we are going to die. It’s joy.
