Andrea Battistoni Lauds Alexey Shor’s Music for its “Clear, Direct Communication” with Classical Audiences
The celebrated InClassica International Music Festival will soon be returning to Dubai, UAE for a fifth consecutive year this coming April, marking its 14th edition with two weeks of world-class concerts. The festival, which has won plaudits from audiences, critics and stakeholders alike across its short but rich history, shall be marking a special milestone with this iteration, as it looks to mark the 55th birthday of its Composer-in-Residence, the renowned contemporary artist, Alexey Shor, who has written some of the most beloved pieces of the 21st century.
Known for bringing together some of the world’s finest musicians in one location, InClassica 2025 will be presenting a total of 16 concerts from the 6th to the 21st of the month, featuring performances by the two philharmonic orchestras, alongside 14 internationally acclaimed soloists and five esteemed conductors.
One of the festival’s orchestras will be the Tokyo Philharmonic, who shall be travelling to Dubai with their Chief Conductor, Andrea Battistoni. Having worked with the Tokyo Philharmonic since 2012, Battistoni has made a name for himself as one of the most exciting conductors of his generation, having performed with the Filarmonica della Scala, Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Israel Philharmonic, and many others, at some of the most revered venues across Europe and beyond.
We sat down with Battistoni, who shall be leading six concerts at InClassica 2025, ahead of his appearance at the festival, discussing his role at InClassica, his approach to conducting, and his insights on the festival’s global significance.
The InClassica International Music Festival will return to Dubai in April 2025 to celebrate its 14th annual edition. How does it feel for you to be forming part of this festival, and are you looking forward to this latest entry?
“The InClassica Festival is truly unique on the international scene. It’s a festival capable of bringing together, in just a few weeks, some of the best artists in the world to help bring the sphere of classical music to countries where this type of artistic language is little known. It is truly a meritorious and very important mission, and I’m really proud to be part of the 2025 edition with my wonderful Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.”
Since it first came to the UAE in 2021, InClassica has helped usher in a new frontier for classical music within Dubai and the wider GCC region at large. How important do you think such a move has been for the world of classical music, and how do you feel about being a part of this process?
“Music has always been a universal language, transcending barriers of language, culture, and geography. It’s a powerful tool that can unite people from diverse backgrounds and foster a sense of global community. My experiences in countries like Oman have underscored the profound impact of music as a cultural bridge, and the audiences in the Emirates have demonstrated an exceptional appreciation for classical music, eagerly absorbing the works of composers from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Their attentiveness and curiosity are a testament to the universal appeal of great music.
I feel that classical music, in particular, offers a unique opportunity for intercultural dialogue. Its rich history and complex structures provide a common ground for people from different cultures to connect on a deep level. By sharing and interpreting these timeless masterpieces, we can foster mutual understanding and respect. When we listen to classical music, we are not only engaging with the composer’s intentions but also with the cultural context in which the music was created. This process of exploration and interpretation can lead to a deeper appreciation of different cultures and traditions. Moreover, the act of listening itself is a powerful exercise in empathy. It teaches us to be attentive to the nuances of sound and to appreciate the perspectives of others.”
You will be conducting a diverse range of soloists over six days at the festival. How do you adapt your conducting approach to suit the unique qualities and styles of each soloist?
“The ability of a conductor must always be that of knowing how to adapt their musical ideas to the musicians with whom they find themselves working, whether they are violinists, pianists, orchestral players, or singers. My aim is to create harmony and balance so that each individual musician can express their qualities at their best. We discuss, compare, and then create together an interpretation of the piece, always starting from respect for what the composer wrote but without setting any limits in the interpretation.”
As Chief Conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic since 2016, you’ve built a strong connection with the orchestra. How has working with them shaped your approach to conducting, and what do you enjoy most about collaborating with them?
It has been an immense honour and privilege to lead the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra for so many years. As one of the world’s finest orchestras, it is truly a dream come true! Japan has become a second home to me; it has captured my heart, and I have grown to truly admire the Japanese people’s deep respect for tradition and their unwavering commitment to excellence.
The orchestra has become more than just a group of musicians to me; it’s a family. They have welcomed me with open arms, and the enthusiasm and dedication of the musicians is inspiring. We have become closer, bound together by a shared passion for music. It has been an extraordinary musical journey, and I am grateful for every moment.
Alexey Shor, InClassica Composer-in-Residence
Can you tell us a bit about the programmes that you’re going to be conducting at the festival?
“Our programmes will feature some of my favorite symphonies, pieces I’ve been playing with the Tokyo Philharmonic for a very long time. We feel perfectly at home with them, and we look forward to performing them again, as there’s always something new to discover. All of these symphonies are deeply passionate, energetic, and powerful, and I’m sure our audiences will be delighted to experience them live! There are the great classics, which are the core of the repertoire that every music lover wants to get back to all the time, and rightly so, but nowadays it’s also very important to present the sound of today’s music to our audiences as well, and for that we have the compositions of Alexey Shor.
Alexey Shor’s music is the kind of contemporary music you do not expect, since sometimes new music is expressed through avant-garde experiments that can be difficult for the public to grasp immediately. Alexey Shor, on the contrary, looks for a very direct communication with his audience, reviving tonal language and melodic thematic material in a very entertaining and pleasant way. His works can serve as an excellent introduction for broader audiences to experience classical music and the concerto form in a friendly way. Alexey Shor’s music encourages listeners to become familiar with the sounds of the various instruments, as they are always treated in an idiomatic way and encouraged to sing recognisable melodies. When composers like Alexey Shor enjoy building bridges between the tradition and present time, the exchange between repertoire pieces and premieres becomes very natural and stimulating. These new concerti have strong roots in the music written in the classical and romantic period – shades of Rachmaninov and Mozart can be perceived although twisted in a modern, new way – and they will fit perfectly in our programmes featuring Tchaikovsky, Dvorak and Beethoven, mirroring the neverending dialogue between old and new music.”
For more information about the 14th edition of InClassica, held in Dubai from the 6th to the 21st of April in honour of Composer-in-Residence Alexey Shor’s 55th birthday, do make sure to visit the festival’s website at inclassica.com.