Music that becomes history. History meets music and creates pages of extraordinary strength, destined to last over time.
The director of the Conservatory of Cosenza, Francesco Perri, he is a highly appreciated composer and conductor, a modern and very active musician. For example, he was responsible for the birth ofBrutia Symphony Orchestraa dream come true, which in two years of life has involved hundreds of young people.
Republic Day on June 2nd. At 9.00 pm Extraordinary concert for the Republic Day at the A. Rendano Theatre.
Director Perri would perhaps change the Iyear of Italy. Maybe.
«I have thought about this possibility many times. In fact, musically our anthem has a very simple and catchy form (perhaps too much so). But It has its own charm and an irresistible desire to be sung. Perhaps, for this reason, he has entered the hearts of all of us Italians.”
Maybe Va thought could be more appropriate, because more solemn… Powerful!
«The idea of changing the Italian anthem with Go to thought, Chorus taken from Giuseppe Verdi’s Nabucco, was feared several years ago. The Nabucco Chorus is powerful, wonderful, but painful for its dramatic strength. It is a prayer that the Jewish people pray for their homeland. A form of resilience towards building one’s own future. The work was associated with the imprisonment of the Italian people and the Risorgimento attempt at independence. Today, thinking of this as the Italian anthem, I don’t think it’s the right attempt.”
There are events that are milestones in history. Let’s try asking maestro Francesco Perri to combine two-three pieces of classical music with as many historical events.
«Music has always been subject to historical events with extreme interest. In fact, composers are men and women who live their time in a very passionate way. There are many occasions in which music has expressed the sense of time and history. How can we fail to remember Beethoven’s 3rd “Eroica” Symphony and the dedication to Napoleon for having proclaimed himself emperor in 1804. Or Chopin’s Study op 10 n° 12 known as “the fall of Warsaw” from 1831, in which the violence and strength of a people who failed in their dreams of insurrection in the November uprising of 1830.”
In more recent times, music has marked incredible historical moments. I think of Woodstock.
«I was also thinking about August 15, 1969 who was born to be a moment of peace, music and rock, of rebellion against the system. A historic three days that marked the history of pop music as the first global event capable of interpreting a global feeling. Never before had an event been so unifying in the spirit of a planetary soul.”
Just as we cannot forget the 45 singers of We Are the World who raised awareness in the world about the terrible famine in Africa.
«The great themes of history can always be immersed in musical moments. We are the world from 1985 is song made for the purposes of charity, with $100 million raised for famine relief in Ethiopia. The best-selling song in the history of the song with 20 million copies and with the great Quincy Jones producing the work. This question alone would be worth one of your splendid episodes on LaC TV. “We are the world, we are the children, we are the ones who will one day bring the light”. Beautiful”.
What about gods Beatles? In 1964 they sang on American TV in one of the most watched programs in the history of TV with around 73 million people connected.
«Another huge event which, through technology, gave the possibility of experience the power of the world of communication. Considered the cultural event of the American post-war period, the performance was broadcast in studio 50 on CBS.”
Anti-war music. Let’s think of the great artists aligned against the war in Vietnam. A worldwide peace movement was created. Today, however, much silence.
«The truth of an artistic silence towards a continuous witch and numerous wars is intolerable. The diffusion of messages, instead of producing awareness, produces more and more addiction. Everyone remains focused on their own being, I who diminishes, shrinks, if they don’t create networks and connections. There is a serious risk of reducing emotional material.”
But something must be done…
«In this, as a musician, I am also looking for someOrchestra Brutia to a real sentimental education of the public. Of course we’re not talking about Woodstock but I have a moral and social duty to sow ideals of freedom through music. Young people and all of us need to connect humanly to live better.”
How much did the incomparable Mina influence the evolution of Italian customs in the 60s and 70s?
«After more than 60 years, Mina remains our most representative female model of Italian musical culture. It’s strange, how semantically absence is determinant of a presence. And it becomes even more surprising, the so-called black swan, in a world that consumes music and has a short memory, continues to remember Mina. For me it is a mystery that goes against all the normal rules of the market. For the rest, I continue to listen to her recordings from the 60s and 70s. Wonderful voice, wonderful arrangements, wonderful music.”
Young people and classical music. A relationship that is still impossible today. Yet we see many young musicians in Calabria who are very active.
«I don’t really agree with this. Music is one language. “Classical” music is an aspect of music, like rock, jazz. Young people are much more attentive than the young people of 10-15 years ago. They show more interest in the plurality of languages, perhaps not realizing its historical validity. But they listen to everything. They are more open to new things.”
Maybe they dance to the sound of techno to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
«Beautiful thing! THEMusic is moving a lot in Calabria and we “Cosentini” are pushing in this direction.
Between the Cosenza Conservatory, the Brutia Orchestra with 70 concerts in two and a half years, and the Rendano Theatre, the rebirth of music is no longer just a dream, a desire but a reality. This is demonstrated by the Rai channels which recently dedicated a special episode which aired all over the world on Rai Italia in early May”.
Can the contamination between musical genres help classical music to enter even more into the universe of young people, especially those ‘always connected’? She tried, we saw it at Rendano.
«The dream of the Brutia Symphony Orchestra is something extraordinary. In just two and a half years the extraordinary ferment of energy and musical vitality has multiplied. More than 500 auditions for the next three-year period 2025-27 are an unexpected sign for us. A bit like music. Join forces and network, trying to smooth out heated individuals and soloists who lead nowhere.”
Perri has something extraordinary planned for the near future
“Yes true. I’m already thinking about new New Year’s Eve which will be even more engaging and which will be a unique event. I promise”.
So: should you think?
«On golden wings»
Who is Francesco Perri
Francesco Perri is a composer and conductor. He has been director of the Cosenza Conservatory since 2020.
In parallel with his musical activity he holds a contract teaching role at the DAMS of Unical in Methodology and practice of Artistic and Musical Research.
He has written more than 30 soundtracks and has been artistic and musical director of the Brutia Symphony Orchestra since 2022.
He is interested in multimedia and research processes applied to technology.
He wrote music for Rai, TV 2000, CTV.
He has won more than 30 awards in music and cinema.
