by Aurora Anello
Roberto Prosseda, born in Latina in 1975, is one of the most active and versatile Italian musicians on the international scene. His name is particularly linked to that of Felix Mendelssohn, whose complete piano works he recorded on 10 CDs from 2005 to 2015 for the Decca label.
Pianist, communicator, and musical innovator, he has been artistic advisor to Cremona Musica International Exhibitions and Festival since 2014.
Maestro Prosseda, when is a musician considered ‘worthy’ of the stage?
That’s a good question! There’s no absolute bar below which one is worthy or unworthy of making music. Looking at the great masters, each of them excelled in a certain repertoire; therefore, my advice is to try not to be “know-it-alls,” but to understand what our strengths are and the repertoire we feel most comfortable with. Furthermore, winning a major competition isn’t enough to get hired: you have to ask yourself what would interest an artistic director, why they would choose “me” rather than someone else.
Perhaps competitions tend, instead, to standardize the typology of pianists.
In general, competitions often encourage everyone to follow a certain model. That’s why I always advise my students not to focus solely on competitions, or to seek out those that require a repertoire more suited to them. It’s important to encourage interpretative diversity, because it’s precisely an individual and personal interpretation that leaves a lasting impression.
You’ve been an artistic advisor for Cremona Musica since 2014. How did you come into contact with this organization?
At the time, Cremona Fiere was looking for a consultant to expand its piano department. The late Roberto Furcht, my dear friend and head of the eponymous company that distributed pianos in Italy, was a great driving force in the Italian piano scene. Knowing my passion for networking and inventing new projects, he recommended me. I gradually began collaborating with Cremona Fiere, initially organizing only piano-related events. Later, they asked me to take care of the rest, including the string section, round tables, and artistic coordination.
What is the main value, from your point of view, of an event like this?
It’s an opportunity to bring people together and create opportunities for everyone, because it’s precisely from discovering new things that meaningful opportunities arise. In an increasingly digital world, I believe that shaking hands, having lunch together, listening to a live musician—everything that happens in Cremona at the 150+ events we organize each year—is something important, something that can never be replaced by the virtual world.
The Cremona Musica Awards will be held again this year. Who are the winners?
For the “Performance” category, the award goes to the great American violinist of Japanese origins, Midori, who will also be present for an open class in collaboration with the Stauffer Academy. For the “Composition” category, we will have Francesco Filidei, fresh from a resounding success at La Scala with his opera “The Name of the Rose.” The “Project” award goes to Franco Scala for the Imola Piano Academy, which has trained many generations of pianists, including myself. Finally, the “A Life for the Piano” award goes to Bruno Canino, who, like the other award recipients, will be coming in person to accept it.
A major new feature will be the events dedicated to the world of research.
Exactly: in collaboration with the PhD program in “Italian Piano Music,” which I personally supervise at the Rovigo Conservatory, several PhD students will come to perform piano music by Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Giulio Ricordi, Golinelli, and Respighi. We will also perform music by rarely heard composers such as Pizzetti, Montemezzi, Pilati, Felici, and many others, including several first performances.
Any other important events to mention?
Numerous concerts are scheduled in the Sala Monteverdi, featuring numerous pianists, including Leonora Armellini, Carlo Grante, Francesco Libetta, Marcos Madrigal, Alessandro Stella, and Vincenzo Maltempo. Strings by Alessio Bidoli, Luca Fanfoni, Marco Rogliano, and Edoardo Zosi will perform rare works by Italian composers. There will be numerous roundtable discussions, including one dedicated to music on TV, featuring Bruno Monsaingeon and programming directors from various television stations, and another featuring Italian and international PhD students in the field of performance. Finally, on the evening of the 27th, a gala evening dedicated to “Made in Italy in music” will be held at the Violin Museum. It will be fascinating to discover the rich and diverse Italian musical heritage (from Italian musical instruments to Italian music). Two great names in opera will also be present: Marina Comparato and Rosa Feola, who will sing rare compositions by Italian composers Gordigiani and Piccinni, respectively.
