Ingrid Carbone has been interviewed by Ciavula Magazine on the occasion of the event organized by FIDAPA in Catanzaro (Italy) and dedicated to music and mathematics.

You can read the full interview (in italian) here>>

Here’s an excerpt.

Tomorrow, you will be holding the event ‘Divulgazione in Armonia’ (Dissemination in Harmony) in Catanzaro, dedicated to the link between music and mathematics. What did you want to convey by choosing this particular theme for your conversation-concert format?

The title was suggested to me by the organiser, and I liked it immediately. I gave it a double meaning: on the one hand, the direct meaning, namely dissemination through the harmony of music, but going beyond that, the title aims to emphasise how, through music, dissemination can be achieved that resonates with a wide variety of audiences. This is the purpose of dissemination, this is the goal I set myself during the shows I put on: to harmonise with the audience, to bring them closer to music, to make them feel part of a unique and enriching experience. I will talk about the link between music and mathematics, about how, through my concert-conversations, I manage to broaden the horizons of my listeners, stimulating their curiosity. And then, at the piano, it will be a bit like watching a film with 3D glasses for the audience!

The Catanzaro audience will have the opportunity to enjoy a unique experience, combining music and scientific reflection. How do you think the combination of these two worlds can enrich those who participate?

I firmly believe that every new experience is enriching, and this principle applies above all in the field of culture. My way of reading music, my mathematical and academic training, and the absolute novelty of what I propose will give those present the opportunity to reflect on how close science and art are, overcoming many clichés and, if you like, many prejudices about the clear separation between them. This is one of the many goals I have achieved around the world, not only in Italy.

You are an internationally renowned artist and university professor of mathematical analysis. How do you manage to balance these two careers and bring them together during your concerts?

For some time now, the balance has been tipping more towards music. There is no doubt about that, and I am not in the least bit sorry! The results I have achieved and am achieving in the artistic field are a source of great satisfaction for me. As I explain to the public, my mathematics greatly influences my music, so much so that in May I held an event for the Department of Mathematics at the University of Mexico, and in November I will hold a conversation-concert in Cagliari for the Festival of Science on mathematics and music. But I don’t want to scare anyone: when I talk about the mathematics in my music, I’m not referring to the formulas that govern the vibration of the strings! I am talking about the logical-deductive method, the ability to analyse and synthesise, the research behind the study of a piece: all this is possible because my academic experience has provided me with the tools to present my results (in this case, my interpretative choice) in a clear, simple and convincing way. As I have already said, I address everyone, and therefore everything I say is perfectly understandable even to those who have no mathematical or musical training. I won’t say any more so as not to spoil the surprise!