Its eerie timing makes it sound like an epitaph to the future. A requiem of condemnation of war, but not only that: something deeper and more complex, as elusive and mysterious as he himself was, despite his impeccable composure

Benjamin Britten’s infallible masterpiece opened the 20th edition of the festival, the first under the artistic direction of Speranza Scappucci. The performance by the RAI National Symphony Orchestra and the choirs of the Regio di Torino was remarkable.