The "7/8" (Seven Eighths) project was born from an intellectual and timbral challenge: transposing the monumentality of great cinematic soundtracks into the intimate and transparent dimension of a chamber ensemble. The name itself reveals the group's genesis: seven orchestral professors, lead players of the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, ideally completed by an "invisible" eighth element, Andrea Ravizza, acting as arranger and sonic architect.

The Excellence of RAI: An Evolving Identity

The ensemble is composed of elite soloists representing the heart of the OSN RAI: Roberto Righetti (violin), Pierpaolo Toso (cello), Enrico Maria Baroni (clarinet), Ettore Bongiovanni (horn), Roberto Rossi (trumpet), and Carmelo Gullotto (percussion). On the double bass, the group saw a natural succession from Giorgio Curtoni to Gabriele Carpani: a passing of the torch that occurred in the name of continuity and shared interpretative excellence, allowing the ensemble to maintain its distinct stylistic signature over the years.

The Art of "Seven Eighths": Beyond Reduction

In the arrangements curated by Ravizza between 2007 and 2011, the goal was never mere orchestral reduction, but the creation of a true sonic ecosystem. Epic themes like Gladiator or Mission Impossible and lyrical pieces like Schindler's List or Il Postino were reinvented by leveraging the timbral versatility of the individual players. The challenge was to maintain the emotional impact of the symphonic original through transparency and tight dialogue between instruments, making every performance a unique event.

A Traveling Success

The "7/8" project brought the quality of the RAI sound to prestigious settings: from the RAI television schedule presentations in St. Moritz to major Italian festivals (Dolomiti Festival, Suoni d'Autunno, Cacciano Festival). This body of arrangements testifies to a vision of film music as a universal language, capable of shining both under television spotlights and in the refined acoustics of concert halls.