Film Music with an Italian Accent

On October 16, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory hosted an unusual program, Film Music with an Italian Accent, dedicated to the great hits of Nino Rota and Andrei Petrov. The concert was conducted by renowned Italian maestro Fabio Mastrangelo.

Performed by the State Symphony Orchestra “New Russia,” the program featured iconic melodies from such cinematic masterpieces as Romeo and Juliet, Garage, The Leopard, 8½, La Strada, Taming of the Fire, Nights of Cabiria, and many others. The poignant themes of Andrei Petrov and the romantic melodies of Nino Rota, which have long become part of the world classical repertoire, transported the audience into the captivating world of cinema, allowing them to relive the powerful emotions associated with these iconic films.

Fabio Mastrangelo is a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy and a laureate of the Mario Gusella International Conducting Competition. Since 2018, Maestro Mastrangelo has served as Chief Conductor of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra “Russian Philharmonic,” with which he began collaborating more than ten years ago.

Fabio Mastrangelo was born in Bari, Italy, and began studying piano at the age of five under the guidance of his father. He later graduated from the Niccolò Piccinni Conservatory in Bari, the Geneva Conservatory, where he studied with Maria Tipo, and the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he earned a performance diploma as a pianist. He attended master classes with Aldo Ciccolini, Seymour Lipkin, and Paul Badura-Skoda, and won first prize at piano competitions in Osimo (1980) and Rome (1986).

The State Symphony Orchestra “New Russia,” with Yuri Bashmet as its Artistic Director, was founded in 1990 by decree of the Government of the Russian Federation. In 2002, Yuri Bashmet took over as conductor, ushering in a new chapter in the ensemble’s history. Under his direction, the orchestra developed its own distinctive performing style, characterized by artistic freedom, bold interpretations, remarkable expressiveness, and a rich, powerful sound.

The orchestra collaborates with renowned conductors and performers and has given hundreds of concerts around the world. Its repertoire combines classical and contemporary music, encompassing a wide range of styles and genres. Concerts for children and young audiences hold a special place in the orchestra’s artistic program.