Rehearsing in Rovato

Ciao! Today we are in Italy’s beautiful Rovato, the birthplace of the Renaissance painter Moretto da Brescia. A municipality of 19, 000 in northern Italy, it is nestled in the gentle Franciacorta hills. From the airport in Milan where we arrived from New York, a bus weaving through old and rustic streets brought us here. From Hong Kong, the starting point of our World Tour, we are a distance of 9, 273 kilometers away.



We spent a full day rehearsing with Maestro Judd and was introduced to our guest conductor, Mr. Matthias Bamert. A celebrated Swiss composer and conductor, Maestro Bamert has conducted over 60 recordings and works frequently with orchestras such as the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

The Lucerne Festival in Switzerland gathers at least 110, 000 visitors each summer to enjoy music in the presence of world-acclaimed musicians and the AYO will perform here on August 27th. In fact, it is Maestro Bamert who has been instrumental in our pending appearance under his baton at this prestigious music event. Mr. Bamert had been asked to select an orchestra that he would like to conduct at Lucerne this year. His choice? The Asian Youth Orchestra! What an incredible honour this is – we are determined to give it our best.


Today almost felt like being back at Rehearsal Camp as some of our artist-faculty returned to sit in our rehearsal. The day began with Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, Titan. Play like you are full of fresh air around you, Maestro Judd instructed. Just like the beauty in nature around us, our music should be filled with joy and rejuvenation: “Mahler is like the beautiful countryside we are in now.”

Faculty members Mr. Versiglia and Mr. Williams rejoin  us in Rovato

Mr. Pontzious observing

Meantime, in true Italian fashion, we had a pizza lunch. After rehearsals, a bus was waiting to take us to Bergamo, a city approximately 30 minutes away, where we explored its cobblestone streets and its cathedral dedicated to Saint Alexander of Bergamo, patron saint of the city.

Tutto bene. More tomorrow.

Bergamo Cathedral. Photo credit: Anthony Hau

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