It is a journey full of ideas and surprises that accompanies the viewer in the stories of “The mirror of Piacenza”a weekly Telelibertà program created and hosted by the director Nicoletta Bracchi. In the thirteenth episode the protagonist was Cristina Ferrari, director of the Piacenza Theater Foundation.
CRISTINA FERRARI AND THE PASSION FOR MUSIC
Musician, theater organizer and prominent figure in the national music scene, Ferrari was born in Casalmaggiore.
Raised in an environment permeated by the beauty of art and culture, Cristina nourished her spirit with classical and Belcanto melodies, learning to love scores as a child: “At that stage, I was 5 years old, it was my grandmother to instill in me a deep interest in notes. She was a great fan of opera.”
After obtaining his classical high school diploma, Ferrari dedicated his life to musical studies. She graduated in piano at the Nicolini Conservatory, subsequently she continued her training path by graduating in singing, with an educational focus, at the Arrigo Boito Conservatory in Parma.
“I obtained – he recalls – my diploma at Nicolini, as a private student, under the guidance of the director Giuseppe Zanaboni. My connection with the Conservatory is deep. It is no coincidence that I made my first official visit as director of Fondazione Teatri, in 2012, to the institute in via Santa Franca”.
THE THEATER FOUNDATION
Through Cristina’s words, viewers were immersed in the behind the scenes of the Theater Foundation, discovering the strategies and reflections that guide the choice of productions and events to offer to the public.
“Every detail is carefully taken care of – comments the Ferrari director – since each show is an opportunity to enrich the city’s cultural offering and satisfy different needs.
There planning a theater season it is a complex process that requires a broad vision and constantly updated sensitivity towards the tastes of the audience. Each program – he adds – must reflect the identity of the theater and at the same time be able to experiment. The Piacenza public? He stands out for his expertise and ability to appreciate both classic productions and the most innovative proposals.
The challenge lies in balancing tradition with contemporaneity. It is important to listen to the criticism and opinions of the public, this does not mean giving up innovation and the courage to propose new artistic forms, also through the involvement of young people”.
A tangible example of this openness towards new experiences is the MusicMediale Festival with Nicolini, which creates new connections and presents works outside the framework of the standard season.
“This approach – he points out – not only enriches the local cultural offer, but also attracts audiences from other cities, with subscribers from Milan, Parma and even from abroad. How to bring young people closer to opera? The answer lies in designing targeted educational projects and offering them the opportunity to experience the emotion of the stage. Nothing excites more than a theater full of young voices. A traditional theatre, anchored to the territory, has the task of preserving the Opera and keeping its spirit alive by adapting to the times. It is encouraging to see that the Ministry is also recognizing the value of theaters like our splendid Municipal one”.
The images flow as quickly as Nicoletta Bracchi’s requests: the artistic direction of the “Verdi Voices” competition, her son Giacomo, stage director of the Regio di Parma (“He has always supported me in my choices”), the meetings with Leo Nucci, Carlo Bergonzi, Franco Zeffirelli, but also the appointment, in 2007, as the first female artistic director in Italy of an opera-symphonic foundation, the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa (“A moment full of emotions and a profound awareness of the responsibilities I would have had to face”).
The Piacenza Theater Foundation will be the organizer of the second edition of the Contemporary Thinking Festival: «It is a source of great satisfaction for us, it confirms the central role that the Theater Foundation plays in the cultural life of the city».
THE NAME OF FERRARI AMONG THE CANDIDATES FOR THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE SCALA
Recently in the newspaper “La Stampa” his name was included in a very noble list, that of the candidates for the superintendence of La Scala. “Just thinking about that role makes my hands shake. Reading my name in that list was an incredible satisfaction, a tangible sign of my commitment and dedication. But what made me most proud was the recognition that came, indirectly, to the Municipality and the city of Piacenza.
Collaborating with local organizations and institutions is essential to keep the relationship with the community alive. Constructive dialogues with entities such as the Nicolini Conservatory and the Valtidone Festival. And, lingering on Valtidone, I can anticipate that we will inaugurate the concert season in November 2024 with the recital of the winner of the Bengalli Prize”.
It’s possible review the episodes of “The Mirror of Piacenza” on Teleliberta.tv.
Tags: Cristina Ferrari Fondazione Teatri Keeping relationship territory alive
