If you happen to find yourself far away from Rome, you might not know about Italian violinist/conductor Uto Ughi's current musical celebration, which has been taking over the city since September 22. Running until October 8, twelve free concerts and various classical music events are offered for the symphonically curious, especially students and younger audiences.
The Stradivari & Guarneri wielding genius Ughi -- who has that "sexy older man a bit like Robert Redford before he fu*#ed himself up with plastic surgery" thang totally down -- has been up to good things since his '90s stint as musical director of Rome's L'Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, who took over for the outgoing Giuseppe Sinopoli, and left the post to Daniele Gatti. He sits as president of his own "Associazione Uto Ughi per i Giovani", and has been seen all over town catering to this years' monumental 10th anniversary.
Here are some shots from September 28th's concert with the young Russian Natasha Korsakova on violin, and secksay Argentinian pianista José Gallardo playing Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, and Gershwin. That's Maestro Ughi below giving Korsakova's violin a final check-up.
Here's a y00tube of Maestro Bruno Aprea with the Orchestra Giovanile Uto Ughi per Roma playing Mozart's Jupiter from September 26.