Mozart Evenings Continues in Verona with Alexander Chaushian, Anna Tifu and L’Appassionata Orchestra
Following the stunning success of its opening night, the third edition of Mozart Evenings 2026 continued on Monday 15th June at the Sala Maffeiana in the heart of Verona, with another concert dedicated to the music and legacy of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, this time featuring the talents of acclaimed UK cellist Alexander Chaushian, and renowned Italian violinist Anna Tifu, who took to the stage alongside the L’Appassionata Orchestra (Italy).
Led by Artistic Director Tommaso Benciolini and President Konstantin Ishkhanov, the festival is being organised by CMDI, the Gaspari Foundation, and the Comune di Verona, and shall be running until the 18th of June, bringing together an array of leading international musicians for a total of five concerts in one of Italy’s most historic venues, where the young Mozart himself performed back in January 1770.
For this second evening, audiences were treated to a beautifully curated programme of some of the Austrian composer’s most celebrated pieces, starting with the Divertimento for Strings in F major, K.138, one of the maestro’s beloved Salzburg divertimenti. Written during his youth, the work already displays the freshness and melodic charm that would become central to Mozart’s instrumental style, with its bright character offering a refined opening to the evening.
This was followed by the Symphony in D major, K.121+136, a piece that continued the evening’s exploration of Mozart’s early orchestral works. Forming an effective bridge between the opening divertimento and the concertante dialogue that followed, the symphony brought a broader sense of colour to the programme, while still showcasing the balance that is so essential to Mozart’s language, perfectly on display in the talented hands of the L’Appassionata Orchestra.
“I am really excited to play tonight in my city, Verona, for this amazing festival”, declared Lorenzo Gugole, the Concertmaster of L’Appassionata Orchestra, “and it is such an honour to approach this music and this score by a genius who can combine so many different moods, operatic characters, and lively rhythms that still make his music feel so alive today! I think it is very important to have the opportunity to play this music, and to bring it to as many people as possible from all over the world. It is music that forms and explains our culture, and also expresses our joy in playing it, and I would like to thank CMDI and the Gaspari Foundation for supporting this festival. They give us the opportunity to approach this music, to play it, and to enjoy it together with the people of Verona and audiences from around the world, and that is a beautiful experience.”
At the heart of the evening, meanwhile, was Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for violin, cello and orchestra, K.364, with audiences being presented with special arrangement of the work that was adapted for violin and cello, instead of the original violin and viola. In the hands of Anna Tifu and Alexander Chaushian, the hall witnessed a rich exchange between two solo voices, with violin and cello answering, complementing, and intertwining with one another over the course of the piece, deftly highlighting the composition’s lyrical warmth, contrasts, and sense of intimate conversation.
“It is really a great pleasure for me to be here in Verona”, Tifu said. “It is a city that I know very well because I have been here many times, and this is the second time that I will play with the wonderful L’Appassionata Orchestra. The organisers of this festival are wonderful, and I was also in Chieti last year for the Mozart festival, so it is wonderful to be back here with another amazing soloist, Alexander Chaushian, to play Mozart’s beautiful Sinfonia Concertante in a wonderful hall. As I have said many times, classical music is immortal. It has lived through so many decades and centuries, and it is still so fascinating that it continues to bring so many people together. I would like to thank the organisers of this festival, and especially Konstantin Ishkhanov, whom I have had the pleasure to meet many times. He has this wonderful initiative of organising many festivals here in Italy, and this is very important for our culture and for classical music. Classical music needs people like him. For us artists, it is also very satisfying to feel that all the sacrifices and discipline involved in our work are supported and valued thanks to people like Konstantin.”
Chaushian concurred with his colleague’s remarks, noting that “I am very happy to be in Verona. It is such a beautiful city, and this theatre is, of course, very special. The orchestra is really wonderful; there is such a friendly atmosphere here, which is always helpful when you are rehearsing and performing together, and of course, I am delighted to play with Anna, who is such a wonderful violinist, and whom I have known for a few years now.”
“It is very important to continue having festivals like this dedicated to Mozart”, he continued, “because there is only one Mozart. There has never been another Mozart. Even today, people can study his works and still marvel at what a genius he was. I do not think there will be another Mozart, so we have to treasure him, and I think CMDI has been doing a wonderful job organising truly phenomenal festivals all around the world. They manage to bring together the very top musicians, and everything is always very well organised. I think it is really incredible to see the number of musicians who have been involved in festivals organised by CMDI, and I see it as something extremely positive for musicians.”
The music lovers present once again responded with great enthusiasm to the events on stage, loudly applauding the efforts of the musicians. As Giovanni Lazzaro, a member of the audience, remarked, “I have always had an interest in classical music, and this is really one of the finest events that we have in Italy. This young orchestra is unbelievable, and it is raising its quality through the partnerships it has with great musicians. I also have different clients who play in this orchestra, because I am a violin maker and I take care of their instruments, so being here is always a great experience, and it is amazing to see and understand what these young musicians are doing.”
“Mozart is always interesting to hear”, he added. “His music is something that sparkles in your life. As many players say, Mozart’s music is something that both the performers and the audience enjoy. I was very interested to be here this evening because Anna Tifu is one of the best players in Italy, and I was really interested to hear how she plays Mozart and what kind of interpretation she brings to this incredible genius. To have such high-quality young artists is a hope for the future. It means that we can believe that music will never die, and that it will continue to move forward. We absolutely need it, because we cannot live without it!”
This sentiment was shared by Pietro Trincanato, the Cultural Affairs Councilor of the Municipality of Verona, who stated that “we, as the city of Verona, are very proud and at the same time very grateful for this big and important opportunity for our city. Everyone in the world knows Verona’s summer season because of the opera, and this year it is enriched by these five concerts dedicated to Mozart, which bring great quality to our musical programme. Thanks to two patrons, Mr Konstantin Ishkhanov and Mr Gaspari, we are able to host such great artists and important ensembles from all over the world, and we are really grateful for that. In Verona, we know very well that music can connect and unite people, and we are deeply convinced that culture, music, art, and beauty are among the best ways for people to meet and to connect different cultures and different individuals. Because of this, the role of these two patrons, or “mecenati”, using the Latin word, is really important, not only for these five Mozart nights, but in general. Art and culture can live, survive, and expand thanks to the generosity and patronage of people who are able to bring their forces together around a shared love for beauty and music. So thank you very much to Mr Gaspari, who is from Verona, and to Mr Ishkhanov, because their common love for culture has made this possible!”
Indeed, this second concert confirmed the growing momentum of Mozart Evenings 2026, as well as its international appeal, continuing the festival’s celebration of the timeless beauty of the legendary composer’s legacy. All eyes now turn to the third entry of this edition, which will take place on Tuesday 16th June, and will feature the Quartetto Pegreffi (Italy) alongside clarinettist Fabrizio Meloni (Italy) in a performance of Mozart’s String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, K.421, and the famed Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581.
