A hidden corner of the countryside, between Mantua and Cremona. A farmhouse. A large room with an imposing fireplace. Seven musicians happily bringing the notes of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons to life. This is how, on a mild Saturday at the beginning of autumn, I Virtuosi di Cremona came into being: a new instrumental ensemble passionately created by Mauro Ivano Benaglia, the Milanese conductor who has chosen Cremona as his new home and wants to give the City of Music a contribution made of notes and emotions. Cremonasera was there to witness the magical moment.

Maestro Benaglia, this new orchestra is being born in Cremona, ‘I Virtuosi di Cremona’ — a dream of yours that is now becoming reality.

When I arrived in Cremona, I was struck by the fact that the city lacked a stable orchestral ensemble that could contribute to all the wonderful and interesting initiatives taking place throughout the Cremona area. I noticed that the name ‘I Virtuosi di Cremona’ had never been used, so the Accademia Concertante di Milano, which I have chaired for 40 years, promptly registered the trademark, precisely to allow young musicians to get involved and perform concerts dedicated to the city of Cremona.

We have chosen the finest instrumentalists. The ensemble includes winners of competition prizes: we truly have some outstanding musicians who have wholeheartedly and enthusiastically embraced this new initiative. As I said, it is an offshoot of the Accademia Concertante d’Archi di Milano, which will oversee every aspect of its artistic and organisational management.

The debut is scheduled for the Vialli Concert?

Yes! The debut will take place on that occasion, precisely because of the enormous appeal this concert has for the city of Cremona. It is an event we came up with four years ago, and the fourth edition is scheduled for November 28, 2026. It will be the perfect opportunity to present this newly formed orchestra.

Have you already planned, at least on paper, a repertoire that could appeal to Cremona?

Taking advantage of this concert in Vialli’s honour, we thought of something, so to speak, ‘popular’: Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. This is also the wish of the Vialli family, given the obvious symbolism of the Seasons as a representation of the circularity of life, making them particularly meaningful in remembering Gianluca Vialli. There will be many more opportunities for us to come together and explore in greater depth the repertoire best suited to this beautiful city.

Maestro, you have a ‘privileged’ relationship with Stradivari instruments. Will they also help ‘baptise’ the Virtuosi?

There will be two of them. The 1730 Omobono Stradivari, which is usually played by the Accademia Concertante, and the 1727 Stradivari ‘Vesuvio’, which will be kindly loaned by the Museo del Violino. We should not forget that Gianluca Vialli personally and financially contributed to bringing this masterpiece by the great violin maker back to Cremona — that was in 2005.

I Virtuosi di Cremona have a long-term vision for the area.

I’m certainly not an old conductor, but I’m still young enough. I hope that, at the age of 60, I can organise projects that are not just flashes in the pan and disappear after a single season. This ‘offshoot’ of the Accademia Concertante, I Virtuosi di Cremona, will play a role in the future of Cremona’s musical life.