Meet Raffaele La Ragione – “It was love at first sight”
We spoke to mandolin star Raffaele La Ragione about his forthcoming solo appearance with La Serenissima (6 November at West Road Concert Hall).
How did you learn to play the mandolin? Did you play anything else before?
I started playing the mandolin purely by chance, in my first year of middle school, not really knowing what instrument it was. A free course was available at my school, and I decided to sign up, following in the footsteps of two friends of mine who had never actually started! It was a long journey, but I remember it was love at first sight.
Tell us about your instrument – or instruments!
The word mandolin, historically, refers to various plucked instruments. Different instruments are found throughout the world, sometimes very different from each other. Consequently, based on the repertoire and the occasion, I always try to choose the instrument closest to the original. For this concert, I will be using two instruments, one with six strings and one with four strings, copies of two antique instruments by luthiers Carlo Guadagnini and Carlo Bergonzi, made by Milanese luthier Lorenzo Lippi.
Have you played with La Serenissima before? What do you enjoy about your collaborations?
The collaboration with La Serenissima began a year and a half ago, driven by a shared passion for Baroque music, particularly Venetian music and Antonio Vivaldi. I immediately felt at home, and I’m always thrilled to play with them again!
What should the audience listen out for during your concert?
The programme will be truly delightful! In addition to an Overture by Brescianello and two string concertos by Antonio Vivaldi, we’ve chosen four battello songs (Venetian folk songs) to introduce two concerts: the famous Concerto in C Major for mandolin and strings and a transcription of an oboe concerto by Diogenio Bigaglia, a Venetian composer born eight days after Antonio Vivaldi. I chose it because the theme of the first movement is exactly that of his sonata for mandolin and basso continuo, held in a library in Padua.
What music do you like to listen to?
Besides classical music of course, I really enjoy listening to Italian singer-songwriters.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I’m a football fan, a huge supporter of my hometown Napoli. Whenever I can, I treat myself to a game with my friends.