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In Pictures: Playing on at Italy's oldest music conservatory


Nepalnews
2021 Jun 12, 14:46, MILAN
Jazz orchestra musician Claudio Guarcello wears a face mask to curb the spread of COVID-19 before playing a rehearsal at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 7, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP

Before the pandemic, students at Italy’s oldest and largest music conservatory were always told to move “closer, closer, closer” when they played together.

“Because you need to hear each other,″ said Cristina Frosini, director of the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory in Milan. ”Even at a meter’s distance, it is harder to play together.”

In its 213 years, the conservatory has turned out talents including composer Giacomo Puccini, and conductors Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, and Riccardo Chailly.

The pandemic, which struck Lombardy first in Italy, and Italy first in the West, cast the 1,700 students asunder. For the first months of total lockdown, they could only follow classes online.

When they returned to in-person instrumental instruction a year ago, students had to adjust to both distancing and playing behind plexiglass, whatever the instrument  flute, violin, piano, drums. Frosini said the safety measures worked: There have been only five cases of COVID-19 among students playing together.

“The students were happy because it was the only way to make music and be together. Psychologically, it was very important,” Frosini said. But musically, it has been challenging.

The adjustment was more difficult for the orchestras or chamber music groups, when the plexiglass dividers and the distancing rules meant it was difficult to hear the other musicians.

“When playing together, you need to be together, breathe together,” Frosini said.

And it wasn’t just the physical distancing that was hard. It was also the absence of audiences.

“We made a recording during the period we were closed to the public, and it was very cold,” she said, despite the high level of execution.

“I am a pianist and when you hear the audience in the silence, that they are listening to you, it gives you a charge. It is also important to have the applause of an audience,″ Frosini said.

The conservatory has staged two concerts this spring: one by the Verdi Jazz Orchestra in May and a symphony of Beethoven in June. Both sold out, and they added a second show for the Beethoven performance.

“It was an important message. The public wants to return to listening to live music, and the musicians finally had an audience,” Frosini said.

The conservatory, named after Italy’s favorite opera composer, features a full-time symphony orchestra, as well as a jazz orchestra; students also study pop-rock music. Graduates end up in some of Europe’s top orchestras, with 90% of alumni working full-time in music, be it playing, teaching, in libraries or management.

Ylenia Labanca, right, plays piano with a singer Yidan Fu, behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Ylenia Labanca, right, plays piano with a singer Yidan Fu, behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Jazz orchestra musicians and singers wear face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 as they gather at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory's cloister before playing a rehearsal, in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 7, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Jazz orchestra musicians and singers wear face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 as they gather at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory's cloister before playing a rehearsal, in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 7, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
A sanitary mask lies in a saxophone container during the Giuseppe Verdi jazz orchestra rehearsals at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 7, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
A sanitary mask lies in a saxophone container during the Giuseppe Verdi jazz orchestra rehearsals at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 7, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Ylenia Labanca, left, plays piano with a singer Yidan Fu, behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Ylenia Labanca, left, plays piano with a singer Yidan Fu, behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Carlo D'Ariano is seen through a window as he plays his guitar behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson with maestro Maria Vittoria Jedlowski at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Carlo D'Ariano is seen through a window as he plays his guitar behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson with maestro Maria Vittoria Jedlowski at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Hildegard De Stefano, left, plays her violin and Denis Malakhof, right, plays the piano during a lesson with maestro Luca Braga, all wearing face masks to curb the spread of COVD-19, at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Hildegard De Stefano, left, plays her violin and Denis Malakhof, right, plays the piano during a lesson with maestro Luca Braga, all wearing face masks to curb the spread of COVD-19, at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Giuseppe Verdi jazz orchestra musician plays his saxophone before playing a rehearsal at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 7, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Giuseppe Verdi jazz orchestra musician plays his saxophone before playing a rehearsal at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 7, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Linda Facchinetti plays her flute behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson with maestro Rosalba Montrucchio at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Linda Facchinetti plays her flute behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson with maestro Rosalba Montrucchio at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Viola Arena, background, wears a sanitary face mask as she plays the piano piano behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson with maestro Andrea Carcano at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Viola Arena, background, wears a sanitary face mask as she plays the piano piano behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson with maestro Andrea Carcano at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Luis Urgiles, right, plays his saxophone behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson with maestro Tino Tracanna at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Luis Urgiles, right, plays his saxophone behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19, during a lesson with maestro Tino Tracanna at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Hildegard De Stefano wears a face mask to curb the spread of COVID-19 as she plays her violin during a lesson with maestro Luca Braga at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Hildegard De Stefano wears a face mask to curb the spread of COVID-19 as she plays her violin during a lesson with maestro Luca Braga at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Giuseppe Verdi jazz orchestra musicians and singers play their instruments behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19 during a rehearsal at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 7, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Giuseppe Verdi jazz orchestra musicians and singers play their instruments behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19 during a rehearsal at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 7, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Andrea Lopalo wears a face mask and plays the drums behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19 during a lesson at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
Andrea Lopalo wears a face mask and plays the drums behind a transparent panel to curb the spread of COVID-19 during a lesson at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 29, 2021. Whatever the instrument, flute, violin or drums, students at Italy's oldest and largest music conservatory have been playing behind plexiglass screens during much of the pandemic as the Conservatory found ways to preserve instruction throughout Italy’s many rolling lockdowns. Photo: AP
music pandemic Music Conservatory Milan lockdown Giacomo Puccini jazz jazz orchestra
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