Italian Classical music conductor Riccardo Muti, who is music director of the Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini, guest conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and has long been a champion of the idea of beauty, conducted the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year concert on January 1. Before the concert began, he addressed the world’s press, “We musicians are only a small part of the world, unfortunately. What we can contribute to peace, beauty and harmony, is little, but very important. We need music more than ever because it is medicine for the soul.”
In November 2017, Muti, who was then music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, concluded a warmly received community concert Nov. 15 at Lane Tech College Prep High School on the city’s North Side, which was attended by 2,000 people. He reminded the audience, “only Beauty, with a capital B, can save the world.”
