Corrado Bolsi: “Investing in education and culture is the best way of investing in the future”

Corrado Bolsi, violinist, concert performer, teacher and director of the Barcelona Liceu Conservatory string department.

Corrado Bolsi is 53 years old and married with two children. Born in Rome, he lived in Paris and Brussels before coming to Barcelona in 2001. He is a violinist, concert performer, teacher, and the director of the Barcelona Liceu Conservatory string department, which has 130 students from all over the world and teachers from 11 different countries. Corrado Bolsi is also the director of the Granollers Chamber Orchestra.

Why did you choose Barcelona?

I came to Barcelona from Belgium out of love for the city and Catalonia, and for the life here. At that time I was not working here, but I thought that my children would develop better and in a more Interesting way if they grew up here. I was traveling a lot at the time, but in the end Barcelona became the main center of gravity for my work as well. Even now, I am sure I made absolutely the right decision.

Which aspects of the city would you highlight as positive?

Barcelona is both a large, active, and advanced city and one that is ideal to live in; it is also a city that is able to get the best out of its inhabitants. For me, Barcelona’s spaces, short distances, practicality, services, infrastructures, and geographical location make it the best city in the world to live in.

Which aspects of the city need to be improved? How?

I think there are aspects that need deep roots. We need to invest in training and education more effectively and more thoroughly, always put the most competent people at the head of projects, and put down deep foundations without obsessing about reaching the roof as quickly as possible. And we need to understand that today’s city is the result of efforts made in the past, especially in the world of business and culture.

Which aspects of the city do you think will help it overcome the Covid-19 crisis?

Barcelona has absolutely extraordinary human and intellectual potential. It has managed to concentrate its unique energies and skills in key areas and to create consensus amongst a wide range of people from very different backgrounds. I believe that these are powerful tools that will help the city to recover from any crisis; and they are not qualities that are found in any city.

What challenges do you think the city will face once the health emergency is over?

I think the challenge will be to transform and consolidate the city to enable it to grow in other fields, not only tourism. The world of culture needs to be consolidated and grow so that Barcelona can take its place alongside other great cultural capitals. Barcelona needs to learn how to nurture and rely on its own people and skills, without always needing to look outside. It is clear that investing in education and culture is the best way of investing in the future.

What do you expect from Barcelona in the coming years?

I hope that Barcelona will sparkle again and excite me in the way it used to in 2001 when I arrived. We need to plan, share, and implement new projects, whilst also appreciating the enormous potential we have already.

Which city do you feel is your city? What do you miss the most?

My city is undoubtedly Barcelona. This is the place where I work and where my children are growing up; this is the world I am part of. I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. Living here, I have never felt homesick.

Read the interview in El Periódico.

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