The fourth edition of Play It!, the concert series dedicated to the music of today presented by ORT – Orchestra della Toscana and directed by Giorgio Battistelli, will take place at the Teatro Verdi in Florence from 23 to 26 September.  

The four concerts, conducted by Daniele Rustioni, Francesco Lanzillotta, Luca Pfaff and Marco Angius, will include several world premieres commissioned by the Fondazione ORT, among them: Francesco Antonioni’s Nostro mare for orchestra, and Lorenzo Pagliei’s A.L.M.A. for cello and orchestra (soloist: Francesco Dillon) both on 24 September, and Claudio Ambrosini’s Morte di Caravaggio for bassoon and orchestra (soloist: Paolo Carlini) on 26 September. During the concert series Ambrosini will be awarded the 2015 Play It! prize for his contribution to music.

Also included in this edition will be the Italian premiere of Emanuele Casale’s 11 for ensemble and electronics. In addition, ORT will pay homage to past Play It! prize winners as Azio Corghi, whose …ite bellu ‘Rondeau’  for soprano and strings (with Laura Catrani) will be performed on 23 September and Giacomo Manzoni, whose piece Allen for reader and chamber orchestra (actor: Riccardo Massai) will be performed on the 26th.