NOSPR / Clelia Cafiero / Adam del Monte / Silesian Guitar Autumn by Respighi, Rossini, Monte, A. D., Od (2022/2022), Dirigent Clelia Cafiero, NOSPR, Katowice, Poland

Towards the end of his life, Rossini was convinced that he had wasted his talent. His enviable income and popularity only enhanced his conviction of the shallowness of his own music. He was irritated by the triumphs of L’Italiana in Algeri, which was the only one of his operas to bring him recognition on the stages of Vienna, London and New York. But are a lightness of creative touch and universal humour not manifestations of genius? In his almost 40-year retirement, during breaks from his new passion – the culinary art – he wrote piano miniatures. Years later, Ottorino Respighi revisited those works and successfully orchestrated them as The Magic Toyshop. The shopwindows of this ballet, adorned with Rossinian curios, refer through dance to different parts of the world. The travels continue, coloured by the Andalusian landscapes of a Concerto by Adam del Monte – one of the leading contemporary flamenco guitarists and composers.