Napoli – A cry of alarm shakes the world of Neapolitan music: the Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti, where the young musician Giovanbattista Cutolo, an innocent victim of Neapolitan crime, played, could close its doors in 2026.
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Maestro Gaetano Russo, director of the ensemble, declared this at the end of the concert “La Vita è Bella” in the Cathedral of Castellammare di Stabia. “We are not closing, they are making us close,” Russo denounced, visibly embittered, pointing the finger at the lack of funds and the absence of a stable auditorium in Naples.
A project for the 2500 years of Naples, but without support
The Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti had proposed to the Municipality of Naples an ambitious project to celebrate the 2500th anniversary of the foundation of the city: a musical journey that, from the melodies of Greek Naples, would reach all the way to Pino Daniele. “They told us that there were no funds,” Russo revealed to the newspaper Roma. Only recently has the possibility of a recovery of the project emerged, but without certainty.
Staggering Funding and a Homeless Orchestra
The orchestra, founded in 1993 by Russo after the closure of the Rai Scarlatti Orchestra, survives thanks to contributions from the Campania Region. The Ministry of Culture, in fact, does not recognize it as an ensemble of national interest, since it does not reach 120 working days per musician per year. "Naples, the cradle of music, does not have a permanent orchestra or an auditorium," added Russo, underlining a paradox: cities of 100 inhabitants in China boast modern theaters, while Naples, the cultural capital, is forced to beg for space.
The commemoration of Giogiò
During the concert, a moving moment recalled John Baptist Cutolo, known as Gioggiò, the 24-year-old musician of Scarlatti Young killed on August 31, 2023 for an argument related to a parking lot. A mourning that made the atmosphere of the event even heavier.
A future in the balance
Russo, who experienced firsthand the closure of the Rai Scarlatti Orchestra in 1992, does not hide his frustration: "We can't wait any longer. If it continues like this, either we close or they make us close." The maestro then issued a warning: "Don't say there's no money. Let's say how the available money was spent." A heartfelt appeal to save a cultural institution and give Naples back the musical prestige it deserves.
Article published on 13 June 2025 - 06:45
The situation of the orchestra is very worrying, but I don't understand why they don't try to find other solutions. Naples needs more culture and less economic problems. I hope they find a way to save this project.
It is a real shame that an organization like the Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti could close. Neapolitan music has a long history and deserves to be supported. Let's hope they find the necessary funds before 2026.