Mozart Evenings Opens with Spectacular First Evening Featuring Daishin Kashimoto and L’Appassionata Orchestra
The third edition of Mozart Evenings, organised by CMDI, the Gaspari Foundation, and the Comune di Verona, officially opened on 14th June 2026 at the historic Sala Maffeiana in Verona, launching five evenings dedicated to the music and legacy of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Taking place from the 14th to the 18th of the month, this festival is bringing together leading international artists and the musicians of the L’Appassionata Orchestra for a programme shaped around one of the most beautiful musical settings tied to Mozart’s Italian journey, with the legendary composer himself having performed in this same hall back in 1770.
“To be part of L’Appassionata Orchestra is really an honour and a pleasure”, said Elisa Spremulli, the first violin of the orchestra, “and to play here in this beautiful hall, the Sala Maffeiana, where Mozart played when he was young, is really amazing. I think it is crucial to continue having the possibility to study, play, and listen to this kind of music, because Mozart is the father of all composers. We are really thankful to CMDI and to the Gaspari Foundation because thanks to them we have the great pleasure of being here and playing with all these amazing soloists!”
Indeed, joining the ensemble for this opening concert was none other than the acclaimed Japanese violinist Daishin Kashimoto, who has been the first concert master of the Berliner Philharmoniker for over 15 years, and is widely recognised as one of the most talented violinists of his generation.
“It is wonderful to be in this amazing hall, with its incredible history”, Kashimoto remarked. “It is an amazing experience, and I would like to congratulate the Artistic Director, Tommaso Benciolini, for doing such a great job! The city of Verona also helps a lot in making the time here so enjoyable, and the collaboration with the wonderful orchestra has been a real joy. I think the music of Mozart simply speaks for itself. It is always a treasure, and it is always such a pleasure and a privilege to perform and listen to this wonderful art. There is never too much Mozart in life!”
“For us musicians, this is what we live for”, he continued. “To be able to perform, and of course to have the support of organisations, donors, sponsors, cities, and public institutions, is always needed for classical music. It has always been this way, even in Mozart’s time. Having such organisations supporting the arts, supporting us musicians, and making events like this happen is extremely important. These events connect people from different countries and different cultural backgrounds, and this is especially important, particularly in these times”.
The evening opened with Mozart’s Symphony No. 29 in A major, K.201, one of the outstanding works of the composer’s Salzburg period. Written in 1774, when Mozart was still in his teens, the symphony already reveals a striking artistic maturity, and perfectly set the tone for the festival with its elegant, refined grace. The second part of the programme was then devoted to the Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K.219, commonly known as the “Turkish” Concerto. Composed in 1775, the work is among Mozart’s most beloved contributions to the violin repertoire, universally beloved for its lyrical beauty and sharp contrasts, with its famous finale, where one can find the lively “Turkish” episode, introducing a spirited change of character, that allowed Kashimoto to showcase the full breadth of his inimitable style.
The atmosphere throughout the evening reflected the significance of the occasion, with the Sala Maffeiana filled to capacity with an international audience that was very warmly responsive to the performance.
“This is my first time in Verona, and I am enjoying it immensely”, declared Michael Berry, one of the audience members who packed into the hall to experience Mozart Evening's opening night. “There is so much history, culture, and entertainment here; it’s really nice to be here, and I am enjoying it immensely so far. This is my first Mozart concert, so it is nice to be here and to know that, when coming to Verona, one can take up such an opportunity.”
Meanwhile, speaking after the opening evening, Konstantin Ishkhanov, the President of Mozart Evenings, said that “this first concert was a wonderful way to begin the 2026 edition of Mozart Evenings. The combination of Daishin Kashimoto, the L’Appassionata Orchestra, and this exceptional venue created exactly the kind of atmosphere we hoped for. Mozart’s music has a unique capacity to bring people together across time and place, and tonight’s performance showed why his legacy remains such a powerful one!”
On his part, Giuseppe Gaspari, from the Gaspari Foundation, had similar sentiments, expressing that, “for us, this is a great opportunity, because Mozart has a historical connection with Verona. He came to the city when he was very young, performed here in the Sala Maffeiana, and also played the organ in the Church of San Tomaso, which is a famous instrument. So this is an opportunity for us to come together and to feel the music of Mozart, one of the greatest composers of the 18th century. It allows us to satisfy not only our own cultural needs, but also those of our society and our city, which greatly appreciates these kinds of events. I think it is very important, because culture, music, and art cannot belong only to one city or one country. There must be an exchange, an osmosis. What others can give us, and what we can give to them, increases the quality of the occasion, whether in music, art, or culture more generally.”
Mozart Evenings 2026 now looks forward to the next entry in its schedule, with cellist Alexander Chaushian (UK), and violinist Anna Tifu (Italy) set to take to the stage of the Sala Maffeiana alongside the L’Appassionata Orchestra on Monday 15th June at 6pm.
