Young Italian seizes Marseilles
OrchestrasMarseilles Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra have named Michele Spotti of Milan as their new music director. He succeeds the veteran American conductor Lawrence Foster.
Spotti, 29, is already music director of the Orchestra Filarmonica di Benevento.
He is managed by StageDoor in Bologna.
I heard Maestro Spotti’s debut at Wiener Staatsoper on Christmas, leading “La fille du regiment” with Pretty Yende and Juan Diego Flórez. Given what we’ve been getting on the podium as of late, I was very pleasantly surprised: he kept a perfect balance with the stage, never overwhelmed (a frequent problem in this house), maintained the energy from the downbeat, and provided appropriately frothy accompaniment (even Bonynge could unnecessarily drag out this score). Bravo!
Any relation to the bass Marco Spotti?
Likely. Can’t be too many people with that surname running around. Marco’s a lovely chap, too.
It’s Marseille. Without an ‘s’ at the end.