Venere e Adone (Venus and Adonis) received its world premiere with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, under Maestro Dirk Brosse, at the Perelman Theater at Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on May 15-16, 2016. Maestro Di Vittorio was present for the premiere, and conducted the work himself on May 16th – in his conducting debut with the orchestra.
Reviews from Di Vittorio’s triumphant world premiere:
“Salvatore Di Vittorio’s Venus and Adonis was basically an orchestral song, and often a beautiful one, with a finale that felt like the sound track to an absent movie.”
– Philadelphia Inquirer
“On Sunday afternoon, Brosse launched the program with the lush and lovely Venus and Adonis by Salvatore Di Vittorio. Di Vittorio is Brossé’s New York City equivalent, where he founded and conducts Gotham’s own Chamber Orchestra. Receiving its world premiere this past weekend, the work recalls Respighi, with the Impressionist’s shimmer of sounds, gently highlighted by a dusting of cymbals, and caressing strum of the harp. However, it is infused with Di Vittorio’s own original imagination and ability to build, then deconstruct musical architecture that ultimately fades, like Venus’s own loveliness. And yet there is substance, an appealing heft to this work, which is perhaps why Di Vittorio, in a panel conversation after the concert, noted that Bach and Ravel were his greatest influences in this work. Take a look at the Titian painting that inspired it. This is no dreamy parting of lovers, but a passion that has ineradicable roots.”
– Broad Street Review