US National Symphony Orchestra plays ancient instruments at Milan's Teatro alla Scala
When Gianandrea Noseda conducts an orchestra, he wants the instruments to "imitate vocal voices … even if they are absent”. He calls this an "Italian style" of playing and in his seasons at the U.S. National Symphony Orchestra, Noseda has been working to infuse the American orchestra with his Italian influence. To achieve this, Noseda has loaned the orchestra with nine stringed instruments that he personally acquired from renowned Italian master luthiers dating from 1686 to 1835. These instruments, including seven violins, one viola, and one cello, are typically far too costly for most orchest...