Riccardo Muti
(c) CSO
Riccardo Muti received the Honorary Citizenship by the Municipality of Andria today in a ceremony in the Council Chamber. The Maestro is attached to Apulia, its landscapes, its traditions, and in particular to Castel del Monte, an octagonal castle built in the 13th century by Emperor Frederick II on a hill outside of Andria.
Frederick’s contemporaries called him ‘stupor mundi’, the ‘astonishment of the world’, and Muti is known for being a very great admirer of this emperor. A giant picture of Castel del Monte could be seen in his studio at the headquarters of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. When Philip Glass visited him and saw the image of that manor, he decided to compose The Triumph of the Octagon. Muti says: « When I have a day off, I set off alone for Puglia: its centuries-old olive trees, its red earth, Frederick’s castles. There I rediscover the faces and voices of my past and can stop and listen to the silences that will be a source of inspiration to the music. »
Fredericks Castel del Monte
(c) Ministero della Cultura
« The granting of honorary citizenship to Maestro Riccardo Muti, » said Mayor Giovanna Bruno, « is a recognition of his great artistic talent and undisputed contribution to the world of music over the course of his brilliant career, while at the same time constituting a special opportunity to highlight the example of someone who, driven by talent and passion, has managed to become an excellence recognized throughout the world, as the heir and highest representative of the Italian musical tradition and synonymous with Italianism, cultural prestige and artistic ability. Of importance also, as a further motivation, rises his connection with the whole of Apulia and in particular with the figure of Frederick II, Stupor Mundi, with Castel del Monte and the surrounding territory, which he himself defined as part of his life and an absolute reference point of his professional path. It is a source of pride to count among the citizens of Andria such a prestigious figure of Maestro Muti. I am grateful to him for accepting. »
