According to Michele Mariotti, music director of the Rome Opera, ¡°Japan is like a second home¡± for Italy¡¯s opera and classical music community.
While the art form is seen as a ¡°part of Italy¡¯s cultural DNA¡± in its home country, it also has an enthusiastic fan base in Japan. That is why the Rome Opera intentionally chose two of Italy¡¯s greatest masterpieces for its first Japan tour in five years.
¡°You really can¡¯t exaggerate how much Japanese audiences respect and love opera and classical music in general,¡± Mariotti says to The Japan Times over video chat from Rome. ¡°For us, every time (we perform in Japan) is a joy and a responsibility at the same time because Japanese people know very well what to expect. They love and know their opera very well. The knowledge is really very deep, and it¡¯s a pleasure to travel and perform in Japan.¡± Mariotti was last in Japan as recently as June to lead The Tokyo Symphony in two concerts.
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