“Music speaks a universal language, it knows no boundaries” says Ilaria Borletti Buitoni, President of the Quartet Society of Milan founded in 1864 by Arrigo Boito and Tito Ricordi, announcing that the Company will reserve free tickets for the refugees hosted until the end of the season from Casa Jannacci and Caritas Ambrosiana.
President, the war in Ukraine also raises questions to the world of culture …
«Nobody is neutral, today more than ever culture is the most authoritative, independent and free voice; asking living artists to take a stand against the monstrous Russian invasion of Ukraine is not a questionable gesture, and it is foolish to argue about Dostoevsky. Hundreds of brave Russians are in prison for expressing their opinion against a leader who has dragged his people into a war that will also be devastating for Russia itself and, as President Draghi says, will lead to one of the biggest humanitarian emergencies in the world. postwar period. Russian artists distance themselves from Putin and join the great Russian people who do not share this choice ».
What can the music say?
“Culture cannot exempt itself from expressing a concrete sign of solidarity with the victims: we do it with music, with our language with a gesture aimed at supporting those institutions involved in the front line such as the Italian Red Cross and Caritas Ambrosiana who daily work both in Ukraine and in Milan for refugees. To these two institutions we donated the proceeds from last Tuesday’s concert which featured the Emerson Quartet. For us there are no equal distances in this situation but only victims, women, children, houses torn apart, lives destroyed and millions of refugees. We did it because the Quartet Society is a large and ancient community, certainly united by the love for music but also by the sense of belonging to our Milan and its solid values, among which the welcome of those who suffers “.
At Christmas you created the “suspended ticket” to give a concert to 200 guests of Caritas Ambrosiana, Casa Jannacci, Opera Casa Cardinal Ferrari and Opera San Francesco for the poor. What does it mean to propose classical music to those who, perhaps, have never lived in harmony?
«The classical always elevates, listening to Bach or Schubert or other giants of the history of music is good for the soul. Ukrainians, for example, are very fond of classical music, they have large conservatories and theaters, I know that right now the priorities are other but also the soul needs to be nourished. Bach talks about God, Beethoven about life and Mozart goes straight to the heart. If I could, I would increase the activity of this type, but unfortunately the Quartet receives very few state contributions and therefore you cannot do everything you would like. What I can tell you, however, is that, in agreement with the Municipality of Milan, I intend to welcome in our concerts in the Sala Verdi not only refugees from all wars but, more generally, all victims of violence. Because music is the most powerful medicine of the soul ».
What does it mean today to propose a concert season?
“Leading an endless battle, Italy is not a country in which quality is recognized, we don’t need a lot of contributions, you have to choose when making public cultural policies if you want the cultural community to grow. Italy has never recognized its enormous tradition in the field of classical music, nothing is taught in our schools, it is not clear who Monteverdi is but not even who Beethoven is. It is very difficult to build the audience of tomorrow; Italy does not guarantee anything to young musicians, I have met many who are starving. In France and elsewhere they give public contributions, but making classical music in Italy is almost impossible; you can also undertake quality, artistic and innovative paths but they are not recognized. It is the logic of division, your proposal ends up in a bunch of others, instead we need to create a policy of public resources ».