Yesterday’s rehearsal took place in the church for the first time, rather than in the rehearsal room – an important change, especially from an acoustic point of view. The sound immediately felt broader and more interesting, even though there are still details to refine.

In the first part we worked on Schubert and Prokofiev with the orchestra alone. There were a few absences due to illness (6/6 first violins, 4/5 seconds, 2/3 violas, 3/4 cellos, 1/2 double basses), but all the winds were present. We worked well on ensemble, and I was struck by how clearly the work done in previous rehearsals is already bearing fruit.

After the break we met the soloist for the first time, Maria Luce De Ruvo, aged 17, and worked on Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. It took some time to find the right balance: she was understandably shy at first, but gradually began to produce a beautiful, mature and focused sound. We observed each other closely. When she made requests – for example, asking for a slightly faster tempo in the first movement – she kept apologising; I realised she needed encouragement, and little by little she relaxed.

We found a strong connection on almost everything, and overall the rehearsal was extremely productive. She plays with great naturalness, and the orchestra responded to her with genuine appreciation.

Today, January 3, we have a double rehearsal ahead: first we will continue working on details across the whole programme, and after the break we will face the full dress rehearsal.