Q: Maestro, first of all congratulations for the amazing concert of the last 5 th June.

It was an
amazing experience. We are really interested to know how this idea was born, can you tell us
something more?

A: Thank you for your questions. It was an unforgettable concert. For the first time in Guiyang this so
important opera by Pergolesi was performed completely.I think this city deserve to have an active
cultural life and the Conservatory of Guizhou Normal University is one of the point of reference for
Music and Dance.
The idea was born at the end of December. After my concert with Guizhou Normal University, the
Dean Liu asked me which opera can be performed in the university and I suddenly thought about “La
Serva Padrona”. It’s a really fresh and light opera, technically not so difficult for the singers and the
orchestra.
In the western countries is really famous, maybe one of the most famous baroque operas, so I
thought it was perfect to be performed here in Guiyang. Some friends, professional singers and
orchestra conductors, told me it was never performed in China. Actually I don’t know but maybe it
was performed for the first time in China ?

Q: Really interesting Maestro, can you told us how did you planned that? I listen to the students
singing and speaking in Italian, it was really great. How did you do that?

A:The opera is divided in small arias and recitativos.

It was the first important step:Study the recitativos.
Recitativo are not easy and require a better Italian language than sing arias because they are actually
“speak singing”, the singers said something singing.
Professor Andy Nelson helped me in this training and in the organization of all the phases.
All the work was made in two months. I divided the work with singers in steps.
First step was select a big group of students, second let them study and than assign to them the arias
and recitativos.
During the study of the opera I try explain also the meaning of the words, the context, the emotions
of each part. The student at the beginning was really exited but scared, than they start to love the
arias and to try by themself to practice more. The third part was the acting , we enjoy this part as
more free possible. Everything was connected to the opera also the costumes were related to this
age.

Q:Maestro what about the orchestra? I saw them really active and ready under your direction. Are
they professionals?
A:No!they are my students too! There was only 4 professors in the orchestra. The orchestra is formed
by more than 30 people, the rest are all students. They followed me really hard in this adventure. I am
the Principal Conductor from the last September, we did some Opera Concerts but never an entire
opera! It was one life experience, we worked really hard in the connection between singers and
orchestra. To sing accompanied by the orchestra is totally different than to sing accommodating by
the piano, totally different.

Q:Maestro I saw the General Consul of Italy was present at the concert, he said really wonderful
words about your work and Italian culture in China. Can you tell us more?

A:I think Italy and China are two countries with big and long culture. It is so important because a lot of
time I can feel we share the care about the beauty of the Music. The Italian Consul Filippo Nicosia was
invited by me and Dean Liu to participate at this concert to celebrate together this new join: Italian
and Chinese culture .
I think it is beautiful. Guiyang and Guizhou are beautiful places and deserve to have great culture
events. I hope this new collaboration will bring a lot of beautiful things and project. China and Italy are
much more similar than other cultures, so I hope we can do in the future beautiful things!