Italian interpreter for Teutonic start to orchestra's series

By WILLIAM DART

Marco Zuccarini has been responsible for some of the zestiest Auckland Philharmonia concerts of the past few years. The Italian conductor is back in town with American soprano Angela Brown, to open the orchestra's Vero Premier series tomorrow night.

Zuccarini came to conducting through working in orchestras as a clarinettist. "It was a wonderful experience," he says. "I studied with every conductor I had in front of me."

A graduate of the celebrated Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, he is now sought after on the European orchestral and operatic circuits and is a frequent guest in Australian concert halls.

His recent CD of Busoni's complete works for piano and orchestra, with pianist Carlo Grante, has been received enthusiastically.

Tomorrow, the menu is unflinchingly Teutonic: Brahms, Strauss and Wagner. Zuccarini didn't play much Wagner in Italy but, when I remind him how much I enjoyed his Weber Bassoon Concerto with Daniel Matsukawa last year, he seizes on the connection.

"In fact, the closest music to the Tannhauser overture and aria that we are going to do is Weber's Der Freischutz and some Mendelssohn. When it comes to the colour of the Wagner aria, you couldn't imagine it happening without Weber's example."

For Zuccarini, such connections are what music is all about. "My job as an interpreter is to tell a story. When I am conducting, I know the future because I know the piece. But the audience may not know it. I have to take them by the hand and open up this marvellous garden to show what is there."

The joys of colour and taste intermingle when he talks of Italian contemporary music, which he champions back home.

There are many and various styles, from "the hard ones to the new romantic ones - and sometimes it is not all gold".

Most Italian composers write for chamber groups and ensembles. What he looks for is "the taste of their orchestration, the taste of the sound".

He is keen to tell a related story, dating back to when he conducted what was Astor Piazzolla's last concert with an orchestra. "Our meeting was strange - Piazzolla was looking at me all through dinner. It scared me. What did he want, I asked myself. At the end of the dinner he said, 'I'm sure we will get along together because you love food and wine ... just like me."'

Zuccarini may not have dined with Angela Brown yet, but he is looking forward to working with the singer who so dazzled us in the AP's special Puccini evening last year.

"There is always something special about conducting opera," he says. "You can't forget the fact the words are adding another dimension.

"And I always enjoy working with a soloist because it reminds me of my chamber music days."

I'm wondering if anything could possibly inflame this amiable man, but the subject of arts sponsorship brings a new note of vehemence to his voice.

"Do you know it is easier to find a sponsor for a soccer player than a symphony orchestra in Italy? The most expensive soccer player costs €90 million [$163 million]. Imagine how many concerts, exhibitions and books you could create with that."

I mention our soon-to-be-launched television Arts Channel and he recalls that Italian television used to broadcast some concerts. "No more. And when they did it was usually at 7 on a Sunday morning or 2 on a weekday afternoon."

For the moment, Concert FM is doing its usual valiant job of relaying Thursday's concert around the country. Perhaps one day we might be treated to the occasional live telecast - Thursday's concert would have been a prime candidate for consideration.

Performance

* Who: Marco Zuccarini with Angela Brown and the Auckland Philharmonia

* Where and when: Auckland Town Hall, Thursday 8pm