The European Union Center welcomes Riccardo Muti's Cherubini Orchestra Cello Quartet for a performance on Wednesday, September 10. Free and open to the public, this program is presented in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago, Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini and Fondazione Ravenna Manifestazioni.
Founded by Riccardo Muti in 2004, the “Luigi Cherubini” Youth Orchestra brings together talented young musicians selected through auditions by top European professionals. Named after the renowned composer Luigi Cherubini, the ensemble reflects both a strong Italian identity and a European cultural vision. Members serve for three years, creating a constantly renewed group that bridges conservatoires and the professional music world. With a regular summer residency at the Ravenna Festival and participation in Muti’s Italian Opera Academy, the Cherubini continues to grow in prestige. In 2024, it celebrated its 20th anniversary with major concerts in Vienna and Lucca, both conducted by Muti.
Composed of four young and talented musicians from the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra—Francesco Angelico, Matteo Bodini, Luca Dondi e Luigi Visco— the cello quartet was formed in 2024 out of their desire to explore and expand the musical possibilities offered by this type of ensemble. Since its inception, the group has performed a variety of programs ranging from the original repertoire for cello quartet to adaptations of classical and operatic works that showcase the virtuosity of the four musicians.
The concert program combines original repertoire with great masterpieces of Italian opera. The first part features elegant compositions by Fitzenhagen, Goltermann, Klengel, and Sollima, designed to highlight the expressive potential of the quartet. The second part is a tribute to the operatic tradition, with transcriptions for four cellos of famous arias and preludes ranging from Monteverdi to Puccini, including works by Donizetti, Mascagni, Rossini, and a rich selection of pieces by Giuseppe Verdi.