Concerti in Villa Festival , Vicenza. Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto
Il Giornale di Vicenza 23.7.2007, Eva Purelli
Beethoven at the palazzo created by Palladio - Gessi and the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto perform the 5th and 6th Symphonies
The conclusion to the Concerti in Villa season (promoted by the Province of Vicenza) took place in the city at Palazzo Barbaran Da Porto - a superb residence designed by Andrea Palladio. It was the perfect backdrop for Beethoven's Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, revealed in all their (near imperious) magnificence and majesty by the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto conducted by Romolo Gessi. Within the embrace of Palladio's architecture, the Pastoral Symphony became a fantastic figurative canvas, depicting a harmonious, brightly consonant world permeated by the force of nature. A paradigm of human destiny is to be found in the most famous interval in music history - that which opens the Fifth Symphony. This profound penetrating opening was developed into a rendition of stirring impact. Gessi guided and participated with unaffected precision and masterly touches of chiaroscuro.

CD Rewiew - Orchestra Milano Classica, Stradivarius CD
Falaut no.33. April - June 2007, Gianvincenzo Cresta
Mozart - Concertos for flute and orchestra KV 313, 314, 315. Luisa Sello flute, Romolo Gessi conductor, Orchestra Milano Classica. Stradivarius CD (Str 33761)
A brilliant, expressive Mozart, in which great technical spontaneity, attention to detail and a full sonority ensure that virtuosity is once again at the service of interpretation. Romolo Gessi, director of the Orchestra Milano Classica, has imbued the Milanese ensemble with just the right sound for this performance; the whole flows effortlessly, maintaining a transparency in the phrasing and an expositive clarity. The various tonal landscapes flow by with the persuasion and charm that we would always hope to hear in such works. The Adagio non troppo from Concerto KV 313 is immensely refined, thanks to the suggestion of suspension throughout; soloist and orchestra render this to the full, finding a rounded, yet at the same time ethereal, tone quality. One should listen to this CD from beginning to end, without interruption. In doing so one will appreciate its interpretative design, evident both in the line which can be traced from the opening Allegro of KV 314 to the Rondo KV 313, and in the way the listener is guided along a journey to the very heart of classicism. This is, of course, exactly the type of quality recording that one would expect from Stradivarius. 

Teatro Municipal, Santo André (SP), Brazil. Orquestra Sinfônica de Santo André
Diário do Grande ABC, 25.6.2007, Dojival Filho
Sinfônica emociona em concerto
A qualidade fundamental da boa música, independentemente de épocas e estilos, é sua capacidade de emocionar e envolver o ouvinte. Exemplo legítimo dessa afirmação foi o concerto que a Orquestra Sinfônica de Santo André realizou na noite do último sábado, no Teatro Municipal de Santo André. Diante da performance da Sinfônica, sob a batuta do maestro italiano Romolo Gessi, regente convidado, tudo soava harmonioso. Na abertura do concerto, a platéia foi seduzida pela composição Rikudim, do belga Jan Van der Roost, representante da nova geração de autores de seu país. Rikud significa dança, em hebraico. Logo, o título da composição, formada por quatro peças inspiradas no folclore judaico, quer dizer “danças”. A melodia, pontuada por um ritmo contagiante. Com a participação dos solistas convidados Alexandre Razera (viola) e Ovanir Buosi (clarineta), a Sinfônica interpretou o Concerto Duplo em Mi Menor, op.88, do alemão Max Bruch. O encerramento magistral da noite ocorreu com a interpretação de Sinfonia Nº 7, em Lá Maior, op.92, de Ludwig van Beethoven.

Sala Verdi, Milan. Cantelli Orchestra
Musica e scuola 15.5.2007, Daniela Picoi
Return of the Cantelli Orchestra with a concerto conducted by Romolo Gessi and featuring the pianist Nazzareno Carusi
A concert, performed by the Cantelli Orchestra and conducted by Romolo Gessi was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Maestro Guido Cantelli's death. It took place in the Sala Verdi of the Milan Conservatoire and was a great success. Guido Cantelli's extraordinary artistic personality  was recalled by Marcello Abbado, who not only knew the conductor personally, but also performed as soloist for him on the occasion of their joint debut with the La Scala Orchestra – Abbado as pianist and Cantelli making his first appearance as director of the orchestra. Abbado's detailed and affectionate account touched many of those present in the audience, including Leonardo Cantelli (maestro Cantelli's son) and numerous figures from Milan's musical scene. The return of the Cantelli Orchestra to the Sala Verdi, their traditional concert venue, was warmly received by the audience. The concert programme was of wide scope and included the performance of renowned works taken from Guido Cantelli's favourite repertoire. From the opening bars of Mozart's sparkling and lively overture to Le nozze di Figaro the orchestra revealed to be on excellent musical terms with its recently appointed music director, maestro Romolo Gessi. The virtuosity of the ensuing Concerto KV 271 "Jeunehomme" was handled with assuredness and admirable inventiveness by the pianist  Nazzareno Carusi, who interacted with the orchestral ensemble with masterful ease. In Beethoven's Fifth Symphony the level of cohesion achieved by the Cantelli Orchestra was particularly notable. The mellow sound and the precision with which the orchestral soloists performed their parts showed the orchestra to be in possession of great musical maturity as they followed the interpretative line that Romolo Gessi traced with incisive elegance, careful choice of tempo and charismatic enthusiasm. Sincere applause and praise.

Auditorium, Gorizia. Cantelli Orchestra
Messaggero del lunedì 29.1.2007, E.L.
Acclaim for the Cantelli Orchestra at the Lipizer Concerto della sera
The protagonist of the evening was the Milanese Cantelli Orchestra, an ensemble of first-rate soloists of various nationalities, directed by the highly competent maestro Romolo Gessi and featuring saxophonist Federico Mondelci. The first half consisted of Grieg's Holberg Suite op.40 rendered with careful stylistic precision, followed by a stirring performance of Glazunov's Concerto op.109. The bravura of the soloist and the perfect blend he and the orchestra achieved were rewarded with very warm applause. The second half presented an interesting choice of pieces – Sibelius's Andante festivo and Elgar's Serenade op.20, both atmospheric works given excellent performances by the orchestra.  The pieces for sax and strings by Ellington,  Bernstein, Morricone and Piazzolla met with spontaneous applause. All the evening's artists, from saxophonist F. Mondelci to the very talented conductor Romolo Gessi and the equally professional musicians of the Cantelli Orchestra (whose leader Giacobbe Stevanato won the Premio Lipizer in 1983) were highly acclaimed.

Voce isontina 3.2.2007, L.Q.
Success and warm applause for he sixth Concerto della Sera - main protagonist of the "Lipizer" season, the Milanese Cantelli Orchestra
The sixth Concerto della Sera, held in Gorizia's Auditorium, was a huge success. The main protagonist of the evening was the Milanese Cantelli Orchestra, a group of soloists of various nationalities, directed by maestro Romolo Gessi and featuring well-known saxophonist Federico Mondelci. The programme included rarely performed but interesting and involving works, which were interpreted with great attention to stylistic detail. There were ovations for the soloists, but also plenty of heartfelt applause for the orchestral ensemble and their talented conductor.

Mozart Celebrations. Palazzo Manzioli, Izola (Slovenia). Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra
Amadeus, January 2007, Stefano Crise
Izola, Nazzareno Carusi
The happy meeting of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra directed by Romolo Gessi with pianist Nazzareno Carusi brought into light the melodic wealth and contrasting shades of Mozart's Concerto KV 271 "Jeunehomme" . The other soloist of this Mozartian evening was the violinist Giacobbe Stevanato, who interpreted the Rondo KV 373 with a pure tone and sensitive phrasing. The concert was brought to a close with  Eine kleine Nachtmusik KV 525. Romolo Gessi conducted with measured gestures and revealed how Mozart's music requires, more than anything else, a great deal of refined simplicity if it is to be fully appreciated. And perhaps it is for this reason that performances as equally convincing as this are hard to come by.

Politeama Rossetti, Trieste. Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta
Il Gazzettino20.12.2006, Dejan Bozovic
Christmas with the sounds of Latin America
A Christmas concert with a Latin American flavour? Why not! Why shouldn't those greetings for the imminent festive season be expressed with a celebrated tango, a paso doble or a rumba? Warm southern rhythms therefore, yet interspersed with cool light snow showers in the form of nostalgic works more explicitly related to the Nativity. This appears to have been the thinking behind the programme “From Tango to Musical”, conceived by Romolo Gessi, who conducted the Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta. The works, performed with great flair by the maestro and orchestral musicians, were destined to capture the imagination of audiences anywhere, and those present at the Politeama Rossetti certainly took no time in showing their appreciation. Warm applause accompanied the performance of the “classics” of the repertoire: Lecuona's Andalucia Suite, Simons's El Manisero, Padilla's El Relicario, Villoldo's El Choclo, Piazzolla's Libertango and Adios Nonino. And a few members of the audience had no qualms about singing along to those Latin American successes by Lloyd Webber (Evita) or Anderson (Blue Tango, The Girl in Satin). There was also a premier performance of  En trineo by Pérez Tedesco. The mezzo-soprano Kerstin Ibald, star or the European Musical scene, enchanted the auditorium with Christmas Lullaby, Christmas Waltz and Gold von den Sternen, a moving piece from the musical Mozart.

Il Piccolo 20.12.2006, Maria Cristina Vilardo
A Latin American Christmas, with Kerstin Ibald and the Filarmonia Veneta; praise for the concert at the Rossetti
This Christmas setting had the decidedly melodious and sanguine flavour of Andalusia or Latin America, transformed into musical emotions by Romolo Gessi. The conductor led the Filarmonia Veneta in an intensely evocative performance of changing moods – an indication of the ensemble's high standard. Music-stands held a selection of celebrated works, such as  Libertango and Adios Nonino by Astor Piazzolla and Andrew Lloyd Weber's Suite from the musical Evita. The overture to the concert was the Andalucia Suite, a tribute to the Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona. And amongst all the tangos, rumbas and serenades there was also place for the premier performance of En trineo (sleigh-riding) by the Argentinian composer Pérez Tedesco, who was present.

Messaggero Veneto20.12.2006, Erica Culiat
A breath of Latin America air for Gessi's Christmas
An original programme. This year's Christmas concert, given by Romolo Gessi at the Rossetti with special guest, the German mezzo-soprano Kerstin Ibald, presented a selection of Latin American works and Musical numbers. The Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta directed by maestro Romolo Gessi was in grand form and the musicians clearly enjoyed performing the unusual works of great verve. There was a capacity audience at the Rossetti and they rightly acclaimed this thoroughly pleasant and magically sonorous evening.

Villa Codelli, Mossa. Musical Evenings - Mozart Celebrations
Il Piccolo 22.8.2006, Alex Pessotto
Villa Codelli pays tribute to Mozart
To mark the 250th anniversary of his birth, Mozart was the theme for this, the thirdMusical Eveningat Villa Codelli, Mossa. The Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Romolo Gessi, began with a performance of Symphony no.1 KV 16. This was followed by the celebrated Concerto for clarinet and orchestra KV 622, with soloist Fabrizio Meloni, who performed with brilliant virtuosity. The programme in the second half included the Concerto for piano and orchestra KV 271 "Jeunehomme" with the pure touch of soloist Nazzareno Carusi. Romolo Gessi and the orchestra were sensitive partners to the soloists, giving an impressive, enthrallingly impassioned reading of the works. The large audience (so large that people were standing) was enthusiastic in its applause and was rewarded with two encores.

Salzburg. Pro Musica Salzburg Orchestra
Amadeus and Suonare News. May 2006
Salzburg. Romolo Gessi at "Pro Musica"
Romolo Gessi is the new principal conductor of the “Pro Musica” Orchestra of Salzburg. The ensemble, founded in 1988, consists of musicians and teachers from the Mozarteum.

Politeama Rossetti, Trieste. Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta
Il Piccolo 14.3.2006, Giorgia Gelsi
Fantastic afternoon at the Rossetti
The third edition of Pomeriggi musicali (Musical Afternoons) at the Rossetti got off to a very pleasant start with the concert “New York, New York”. Romolo Gessi, now principal guest conductor of the prestigious Veneto ensemble, proposed an entertaining programme, which met with the audience's instant approval. The concert began with West Side Story and continued with The Syncopated Clock, The Sound of Music, the classic My Fair Lady, the splendid Moon River, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The celebrated music of John Kander closed the concert, which was dedicated symbolically to that unforgettable interpreter of New York, New York, Liza Minnelli.

Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta, Treviso
Il Gazzettino 21.2.2006
Romolo Gessi, new principal guest conductor of the Filarmonia Veneta
Romolo Gessi is the new principal guest conductor of the Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta. His appointment sets the seal on a relationship of long-standing between the brilliant director and the Veneto ensemble. Having successfully worked together for several years, the Filarmonia has now entrusted Gessi with a role which signifies long-term collaboration.

Palazzo Manzioli, Izola (Slovenia). Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra
La Voce 15.2.2006, C.C.
Izola: Palazzo Manzioli commemorates the anniversary of Mozart's birth
Celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth have also begun in Izola. A concert was given at Palazzo Manzioli by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra conducted by Romolo Gessi with pianist Nazzareno Carusi. The programme included first-class performances of the Divertimento for strings in F major KV 138, the Concerto for piano and orchestra KV 271 "Jeunehomme" and the Serenade,  Eine kleine Nachtmusik KV 525. The spirit and subtlety of the performances were much appreciated by the audience, who were rewarded with encores by both Carusi and the orchestra.

Auditorium, Gorizia. Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra
Messaggero del lunedì 13.2.2006, E.L.
Spontaneous applause at the Auditorium for the evening dedicated to the music of Mozart
Only words of praise can be used to describe the beautiful performances. The evening began with Mozart's  Divertimento for strings KV 138, which with its perfect intonation and blend, revealed careful preparation under the competent baton of maestro Romolo Gessi. Concerto KV 271 followed, pianist Nazzareno Carusi performing with extreme dexterity and brilliant virtuosity. Teresa Trevisan and Flavio Zaccaria were the accomplished soloists in the Concerto for two pianos and orchestra KV 365. The concert ended with Bach's Concerto for three pianos and orchestra BWV 1064. Thunderous applause.

Teatro D'Annunzio, Latina. Wiener KammerOrchester
La Provincia 15.1.2006, Fabio Pedone
Triumph of the great Viennese musical tradition in Mozart's anniversary year; a breath of Europe comes to Latina 
The prestigious Wiener KammerOrchester directed by Romolo Gessi at the Teatro D'Annunzio, Latina. An enthusiastic audience fills the theatre. What better way to start the series of Winter Concerts! And the concert opens with that traditional Viennese sound of quiet elegance, the characteristic of an entire musical civilization; one that can play with notes and rhythms while at the same time probing into the depths of the soul, just as occurs in every moment of Mozart's Divertimento KV 138 with which the orchestra opens the concert to mark Mozart's anniversary year. Fabrizio von Arx and Roberto Prosseda are the soloists in Mendelssohn's Concerto in D minor for violin, piano and strings. The orchestra returns to the limelight in Tchaikovsky's Serenade op.48, one of the cornerstones of the romantic repertoire. Another happy Mozart classic, the Allegro from the Serenade KV 525, is one of the encores with which the Wiener KammerOrchester takes its leave of the audience. A point of fundamental importance is being made here: this is music, this is civilization, and it is not for a select few but for everyone.

Il Territorio 15.1.2006, Maria Corsetti
A Midwinter Evening's dream
Bravura, inspiration and intelligence filled the Teatro Grande in Latina on Friday evening with the music performed by the Wiener KammerOrchester. We are talking of musicians that need no introduction: from the refined sound of the  Wiener KammerOrchester conducted by maestro Romolo Gessi, who achieved a sparkling blend of rich colours, to the stirring performance of  Roberto Prosseda on piano and Fabrizio von Arx on violin. The concert began with Mozart's Divertimento KV 138, followed by  Mendelssohn's Concerto in D minor for violin, piano and strings. The second half saw the performance of  Tchaikovsky's Serenade op.48. The grand finale included two encores: Mozart's  Eine kleine Nachtmusik and Strauss's Pizzicato Polka. Thunderous applause (with many of the audience making their way backstage) brought this very special evening to a close.

Latina Oggi 15.1.2006, A.A.
Wiener KammerOrchester, acclaim for the opening night; unprecedented success for last Friday's concert
An unforgettable opening night for all those who had the fortune to be present at the concert given by the Wiener KammerOrchester. The inaugural evening of the Winter Concert series at the Teatro D'Annunzio in Latina was a sell-out. The musicians, conducted by Romolo Gessi, gave impressive performances of Mozart's Divertimento KV 138, Mendelssohn's Concerto in D minor for violin, piano and strings and Tchaikovsky's Serenade op.48. Great acclaim and, of course, applause for the soloists Roberto Prosseda (piano) and Fabrizio von Arx (violin). A masterly performance.

Villa Codelli, Mossa. Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra
Il Messaggero Veneto 30.8.2005
Success for the Musical Evenings
The series of Serate musicali (Musical Evenings) at Villa Codelli was concluded in grand style by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra conducted by Romolo Gessi, with soloists Jasna Dineva and Andrea Bressan. The concert began with Boccherini's Stabat Mater, while two striking compositions for bassoon and orchestra concluded the evening: Vivaldi's La Notte and Rossini's Concerto in B flat major. The orchestra gave a very fine performance under Gessi's elegantly assured direction.

Romano d'Ezzelino (Vi), Veneto Opera Festival. Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta
La Tribuna di Treviso 7.8.2005
Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta
The Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta conducted by Romolo Gessi presented “New York, New York – Journey into the fantastic world of the Musical”. The capacity audience acclaimed the orchestra with enthusiastic applause and a real standing ovation.

Concerti in Villa Festival, Vicenza. Wiener KammerOrchester
Il Giornale di Vicenza 9.7.2005, Eva Purelli
A Viennese ensemble and the captivating Strausses
The evening saw the Wiener KammerOrchester on stage conducted by Romolo Gessi. The ensemble, consisting of 46 focussed and technically accomplished instrumentalists, gave a beautiful performance. The evening began with Beethoven's Prometheus Overture, followed by Mozart's Concerto KV 467. Johann Strauss's The Gypsy Baron Overture and the Feuerfest Polka by his brother Josef were perfectly rendered. The concert was brought to a close with De Falla's composite orchestral suite El Amor Brujo, with its stirring orchestral effects, dynamic accelerandi and enthralling emotivity. The spontaneous applause for Romolo Gessi and the Wiener led to three encores being given, all by Strauss.

Teatro Zancanaro, Sacile (Pn). Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta
Il Gazzettino 14.5.2005, Eddi De Nadai
Triumph of the Musical with New York, New York,  under the polished direction of Romolo Gessi
A successful close to the Theatre Season at Teatro Zancanaro. The evening began with the Suite from West Side Story, and led, via works by Anderson, Porter, Mancini and Garner, to Rogers's The Sound of Music, Loewe's My Fair Lady and finally, to that king of Musical epics, New York, New York. The Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta showed remarkable versatility and played with verve, enthusiasm and balance throughout. Romolo Gessi conducted with mastery and passion, but maintained a poise that derives unmistakably from his Mitteleuropean training. A huge success and three encores.

Concerts in Croatia. Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra
La Voce del Popolo 29.1.2005, Patrizia Venucci
A charmingly refined musical evening. Concert in Rijeka with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra
The concert began with an amiably reflective cantabile work by Tartini, which brought into light the ensemble's pleasantly mellow sound and their excellent rapport with conductor Romolo Gessi. The intense and pensive Tchaikovsky was rich in atmosphere and dynamic subtleties. Maestro Romolo Gessi communicated clarity and musical conviction to the musicians.

Glas Istre 28.1.2005, S.Benic
Concert in Pazin with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra; exceptional praise
The musicians gave a performance directed by Romolo Gessi. Works by Tartini, Dittersdorf, Tchaikovsky, Bragato and Debussy were warmly received by a delighted audience.

Politeama Rossetti, Trieste. Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta
Trieste Oggi 30.12.2004
Glenn Miller and George Gershwin in the concert "From Waltz to Swing"
Maestro Romolo Gessi gave a great performance with the prestigious Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta. There were many anniversaries to be commemorated – from Johann Strauss senior to Antonin Dvorak; from Josif Ivanovici to Glenn Miller. Orchestra and conductor immediately revealed to be enviably well-suited partners in their delicate and melodiously flowing rendition of the dance.

Il Piccolo 28.12.2004
Striking rhytms at the Rossetti with the Filarmonia Veneta
An extremely warm reception for the concert “From Waltz to Swing” directed by Romolo Gessi.

Il Gazzettino 27.12.2004, Dejan Bozovic
Jubilant applause for waltz and swing
The Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta, directed by Romolo Gessi, gave a careful interpretation of the Czech Suite by Dvorak to mark the centenary of the composer's death. The central part of the concert was devoted to Rhapsody in Blue and saw the well-known young pianist Nazzareno Carusi on stage, who gave a determined display of remarkable artistic temperament. To commemorate the centenary of his birth, the programme concluded with celebrated themes written or arranged by Glenn Miller, which were a great success with the audience. Three encores.

Teatro Verdi, Muggia (Ts). Bacau Philharmonic Orchestra
Trieste Oggi 24.12.2004
Great excitement in Muggia with the Bacau Philharmonic Orchestra
Festive musical season's greetings under the star-spangled banner. Under Gessi's expert guidance, the sixty members of the Bacau Philharmonic Orchestra managed to release all the characteristic energy and sensitivity which has won them much praise. Rhythm at its most captivating dominated the evening, revealing, thanks to the talented Gessi, just what has allowed these works to triumph from Broadway to Hollywood. Three suites from well-known musicals - West Side Story, The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady – as well as the allure of Night and Day, Moon River and works by Garner and Desmond.

Concert Season, Sanremo (Im). Sanremo Symphony Orchestra
Il Secolo XIX 24.11.2004
Czechoslovakian folklore, as told by the Sanremo Symphony Orchestra
A charming concert by the Sanremo Symphony Orchestra at the Teatro Centrale, directed by the very competent and authoritative conductor Romolo Gessi. The programme included Dvorak's Czech Suite, Brahms's stirring Hungarian Dances, the Israeli Dances by the contemporary composer Van Der Roost and Kodaly's enchanting Dances of Galanta.

Sinfolario Festival , Lago di Como. Ploiesti Philharmonic Orchestra
La Provincia di Como 9.9.2004, Alberto Cima
Acclaim for Sinfolario: swing and musicals to remember
The swing era and that of the Musical were in the spotlight at the Sinfolario Festival. Romolo Gessi conducted with lucidity and drive, his direction appearing keen, analytical and penetrating. He guides the orchestra with great poise and authoritative command. An impeccable performance of the Suite from West Side Story and an enchanting interpretation of Gershwin's An American in Paris.

Canova Temple, Possagno (Tv). Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta
La Tribuna 14.8.2004
"From Strauss to Swing"
A Romolo Gessi in splendid form directed the Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta in the captivating programme “From Strauss to Swing”. The well-chosen programme of charmingly fresh works, performed with brilliant verve and poise, provided a real feast for the audience at Possagno – a feast that entertained and thrilled. Lengthy applause and three striking encores for this unforgettable evening.

Musica in Villa Festival , Vicenza. Russian Symphony Orchestra of Izhevsk
Il Giornale di Vicenza 13.7.2004, Eva Purelli
Tempestuous Mussorgsky and heartfelt Schumann
The Russian Symphony Orchestra of Izhevsk, directed by Romolo Gessi, performed to an audience of 600 people. From the intimate setting of Villa Ferramosca di Barbano, Mussorgsky's Night on the Bare Mountain transported the listeners to an esoterically mysterious dimension of captivating sounds, wondrously blended. Romolo Gessi conducted with style and competence – his gestures clear and precise. In Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto his direction showed authority and was in perfect synthesis with the playing of pianist Nazzareno Carusi. Gessi's interpretation of Schumann's First Symphony made clear the macrocosmic conception of the symphonic form as a broadening of the microcosm of Schumann's Lied. Self-confidence, incisiveness and strong dynamism characterized the whole. Warm applause.

Concert Season, Bari. Bari Symphony Orchestra
La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno 19.11.2003, Nicola Sbisà 
The Bari Symphony Orchestra directed by Romolo Gessi: if music tells of landscapes and emotions...
A conductor of considerable experience, Gessi presented a programme which included a stunning Freischutz Overture by Weber and Czech Suite op.39 by Dvorak. The appealing melodiousness and impressive blend of sound that characterize these works were brought to the fore in just measure by the talented Gessi, who showed real involvement and exemplary control of detail. The result: the creation of a magical atmosphere, which, in the case of Weber, evoked the fantastic world of the Freischutz drama, and elsewhere stimulated the imagination into seeing landscapes and scenes of life from a world poetically brought to life with the sensitivity of one who paints with sounds. The concert concluded with a dazzling performance of Beethoven's Symphony no.2. A sensational success (to say the least) ending with incessant requests for encores.

Rijeka (Croatia), From Venice to Istria Festival. Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra
Novi List 27.10.2005, Lovorka Ruck
Success of the "From Venice to Istria" Festival
The excellence of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra and of its conductor Romolo Gessi is well-known to the public in Rijeka. The quality of sound reveals an extraordinary affinity between the orchestral musicians and their conductor. Violinist Mauro Rossi demonstrated total mastery of his instrument, giving an excellent, emotionally stirring performance.  Romolo Gessi is merited with choosing good tempi and paying careful attention to every detail within the broader vision of each work. A performance worthy of remembrance.

Mittelfest, Cividale del Friuli (Ud). Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta
Il Giornale della musica 20.7.2003, Giorgio Cerasoli
Pressburger's Rossini at the Mittelfest, the chance for a happy meeting between music and stage comedy
On the opening day of the Festival, Rossini's L'Occasione fa il ladro had the task of defending the honour of eighteenth century Italian comic opera. The work thrilled the audience. Under the sensitive direction of Romolo Gessi, the orchestra gave voice to Rossini's rich instrumentation, both in the prominent cantabile moments of the work as well as in episodes of lively concertati, articulating driving rhythms and playing with crescendo effects.

Il Piccolo 21.7.2003, Claudio Gherbitz
Wonder and intrigue in Rossini's L'Occasione fa il Ladro, directed by Romolo Gessi with the Filarmonia Veneta; stage direction: Pressburger
Given the comic slant to the twelfth Mittelfest season, Rossini's  L'Occasione fa il ladro was chosen to open the Festival. Romolo Gessi guided the Filarmonia Veneta and supported the voices with scrupulous care. Thunderous applause and praise, especially for the soprano Gabriella Costa in the role of the protagonist Berenice.

Il Gazzettino 21.7.2003, Roberto Calabretto
A Rossinian burlesque for the Mittelfest
Rossini's L'Occasione fa il ladro inaugurated the Mittelfest's programme of events. The production saw the collaboration of several bodies, including the Rossini Foundation of Pesaro and the University of Udine, with Pressburger as stage director. Musically speaking, the protagonist was the Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta, directed by Romolo Gessi, which gave a fine interpretation of Rossini's score. The performance made a good start to the Festival and was rightly acclaimed by a large audience and very generous applause.

Messaggero del lunedì 21.7.2003, Renato della Torre
A multimedial musical burlesque; Romolo Gessi conducts Rossini with excellent results
Great success for L'Occasione fa il ladro with Giorgio Pressburger's refined stage direction. The Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta gave an extremely effective performance, the conductor, Romolo Gessi, directing with eloquence and an assured sense of phrase and tempo.

Teatro Nuovo "Giovanni da Udine", Udine. Friuli Venezia Giulia Symphony Orchestra
Il Gazzettino 3.1.2003, Silvio Montaguti
New Year's greetings with the most beautiful music for dance; the Friuli Venezia Giulia Symphony Orchestra's regional tour
Romolo Gessi's direction was well-suited to the sumptuousness of sound that is idiomatic to the genre and he drew from the musicians climactic moments of ravishing beauty. Rapturous applause rewarded with several encores.

Messaggero Veneto 2.1.2003 Renato della Torre
Udine applauds the regional orchestra, maestro Gessi, Nair and Zorza; an orchestral "Happy New Year" from Mitteleurope and the magical New World
The New Year's Day Concert, given by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Symphony Orchestra at the “Giovanni da Udine” theatre to a capacity audience, was a great success. The orchestra played under the controlled, communicative, and attentive baton of  the young and very musical maestro Romolo Gessi, whose conducting was characterized by quality of sound, ensemble and insight at a high level. Four encores concluded the concert.

Sala Tripcovich, Trieste. Friuli Venezia Giulia Symphony Orchestra
Il Piccolo 31.12.2002, Patrizia Ferialdi
Friuli Venezia Giulia Symphony Orchestra; musical season's greetings; success at the Sala Tripcovich for the ensemble directed by Romolo Gessi
Compact strings, incisive brass, precise woodwind. A work interpreted with a purity of sound which at times becomes a precious timbre of velvety softness, in moments of playful chromaticsm, and of shining presence, in phrases of greater breadth. From the podium maestro Romolo Gessi led the dances with decisiveness, enthralling a packed audience with the waltzes of Lehar, Lanner, Strauss, Mozart's German Dances and those from the film Il Gattopardo by Nino Rota. Brahms's stirring dances and the harmonic fullness of the strings in Strauss's Neue Pizzicato Polka were also appreciated, as was Gessi's faultless conducting of Anderson's swing and It don't mean a thing. Inevitable encores and applause set the seal on this truly successful evening.

Concerti in Villa Festival, Vicenza. Radio-Television Orchestra of Krakow
Musica e Scuola 15.2.2002, Enzo Fantin
The  Radio-Television Orchestra of Krakow and pianist Joaquin Achucarro directed by Romolo Gessi
Romolo Gessi gave a carefully balanced reading of Schubert's Rosamunde Overture. Brahms's Concerto in D minor for piano and orchestra followed, the conductor opting suitably for an extremely controlled interpretation which benefited both the purely orchestral episodes as well as those of a more typically concertante nature with the piano. The renowned soloist Joaquin Achucarro followed the director's interpretative vision with extraordinary clarity of tone. Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony concluded the concert. Here, too, the classical restraint of the Polish ensemble, coupled with the elegant and sober direction of the Italian conductor enabled us to penetrate to the very heart of this magnificent work. A huge success.

Bergamo, Gioventù Musicale Foundation. Orchestra Stabile di Bergamo
L'Eco di Bergamo 27.10.1999, Bernardino Zappa
Gioventù Musicale makes its debut; a renewed orchestrl ensemble directed by Gessi
Under Romolo Gessi's direction the Orchestra Stabile di Bergamo performed a Mozart (Symphony KV 16 and Haffner Serenade KV 250) sketched in limpid and stylistically well-defined lines. Gessi conducted effortlessly, demonstrating clear interpretative insight regarding the stylistic outlines of the works and the balance of orchestral colours. The musical syntax was plastic and clearly articulated; the orchestral sound always rich in brilliantly painted colours, the phrasing subtle.

Viennese Gala, Politeama Rossetti, Trieste. Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra
Il Piccolo 31.12.1997, Massimo Tognolli
Sparkling farewell to the Old Year
Protagonist the Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Romolo Gessi. And in addiction to the festivity, one could say, the style, noting the perfect sense of time and respect of proportions with which Gessi’s baton spells out Mozart’s Andante in C major for Flute and Orchestra. The Orchestra conducted by Romolo Gessi gave three encores.

Teatro Comunale, Adria (Ro).
Il Piccolo 27.9.1996, Pierpaolo Zurlo
"White Horse" of the Twenties
A production of “The White Horse Inn”…If the music direction is then entrusted to the well-balanced and brillant care of Romolo Gessi, whom we have already had occasion in the past to note as being gifted with polyvalent interpretative versatility, the entertainment becomes a merry-go-round of sentimental situations, …but above all the recently formed Chorus and Orchestra of the Opera House, conducted by the highly expert Gessi, have succeeded in presenting a palette of vivid colours to an enthusiastically appreciative audience.

Il Resto del Carlino 24.9.1996, Sergio Garbato
Operetta with The White Horse Inn
For this latest production of  The White Horse Inn at Adria's Teatro Comunale, the Centro Lirico Internazionale made the opportune decision to engage young interpreters. A winning move. The orchestra coped marvellously, principally thanks to its director Romolo Gessi, whose interpretation showed careful grading of tempo and means, as well as stylistic insight. The packed audience expressed their  irrepressible enthusiasm with rapturous applause and numerous curtain calls for the artists.

Teatro Massimo, Pescara. Pescara Symphony Orchestra
Messaggero del lunedì 9.9.1996
Chopin and Schubert
On stage, the young Friulian pianist Giovanni Della Libera played Chopin’s exacting Piano Concerto in E minor Op.11 in skillful dialogue with the Symphonic Orchestra of Pescara under the precise and harmonious direction of maestro Romolo Gessi. Then came the celebrated “Unfinished Symphony”, performed with a depth of sound and clarity of phrasing on the part of the orchestra, in perfect accord with the inspiring direction of Romolo Gessi.

Teatro Lirico Sperimentale A.Belli, Spoleto (Pg).
Messaggero Veneto 1.11.1995, Corrado Maurel
At Spoleto to prepare an Orchestra
Romolo Gessi was entrusted with the delicate task of preparing the symphonic repertoire (from Mozart to Beethoven to Schubert) under the direction of Spiros Argiris, Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli and Romolo Gessi himself, who closed the symphonic festival in enthusiastically applauded concerts.

Austro-Hungarian Conducting Competition, Vienna e Pècs
La Cronaca 11.9.1994
Prize for Romolo Gessi
An important award for the young Italian conductor Romolo Gessi. After eleven days of selection trials, the jury of the Austro-Hungarian Conducting Competition chose him as the best of the numerous candidates from nine different countries.

Teatro Comunale Ristori, Cividale del Friuli (Ud). Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra
Messaggero Veneto 23.8.1994, Renato della Torre
Gessi, superb communication
The protagonist of the evening was the Friuli Venezia Giulia Chamber Orchestra conducted by Romolo Gessi, a musician with a great gift of communication, subtle in the choice of tempo and dynamics and provided with a confident and precise beat.