Meet Alessandro Crudele
We caught up with conductor Alessandro Crudele ahead of his concert with the Philharmonia in Bedford.
How did you first get into conducting? Did you always know it was something you wanted to do?
I know it sounds made-up, but it really happened: when I was six years old, I went to my family and said I wanted to be a conductor. I had just started learning music in a very simple way, learning the clarinet in my village band, and I must have been fascinated by the figure of our conductor at the time. And from that moment on, I kept saying that I wanted to be a conductor, until someone took me seriously.
Have you worked with Martin Helmchen before? How do you prepare for a concerto performance when you have limited time to rehearse with the soloist?
Yes, we have shared the stage several times together, I am a great admirer of his. We have already performed some Mozart concertos together – for this composer, Martin is simply unrivalled. In fact, I was very happy when I proposed his name to the Philharmonia for my concert in Bedford and the orchestra immediately invited him.
Are there any particular moments the audience should listen out for in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4?
Already the very beginning is incredible, with this mysterious and typically Beethovenian introduction: through just a few notes you are immediately kidnapped and taken by Beethoven’s hand. And then the marvellous solo clarinet in the second movement, not forgetting the brilliance of the finale, a “moto perpetuo” that captivates the listener with its endless rhythm.
As a conductor you frequently travel across the world. Do you have a favourite place that you’ve visited?
Travelling a lot and getting to know different cultures is one of the great aspects of this job. It is difficult to choose a specific place or country – there are many. Perhaps one area of the world that I miss a lot is Asia (especially Japan and China) where I have often been but have not yet visited since the pandemic.
What concert in our 2024/25 season in Bedford catches your eye?
Definitely the concert conducted by Osmo Vänskä. I have always been an admirer of his, and the programme includes Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5, a piece I love very much and have conducted several times.
