Musical Power Couple Debut: Daniele Rustioni and Francesca Dego

By Leilani Polk

This month’s first Symphonic Series program showcases three rather intriguing works — a Webern arrangement of Bach’s Ricercar No. 2 from The Musical Offering, Busoni’s Violin Concerto, and Schoenberg’s 1937 orchestration of Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 1, this version often referred to as his unofficial Fifth Symphony. The two guest artists featured in the program are not only making their respective debuts with the Seattle Symphony but also happen to be a musical power couple: Italian conductor Daniele Rustioni and Italian American violinist Francesca Dego. 

Married since 2015, Rustioni and Dego are based in London and have already established themselves as classical music heavyweights. Rustioni became Music Director Emeritus of Opéra National de Lyon last summer after eight seasons as its Music Director and received the ‘Chevalier des Arts et Lettres’ rom the French Republic for his artistic contributions there; started as the Principal Guest Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera this season; and in April, he assumes the role of the Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor. Meanwhile, Dego performs with renowned orchestras around the world, starts her position as resident artist at London’s Wigmore Hall next season, and her 2024 recording of Busoni and Brahms violin concertos earned her Italy’s prestigious Franco Abbiati Prize.  

Last year the couple embarked on their first American tour together, with the Busoni — now one of Dego’s signature pieces — frequently performed at their concerts together. “I’ve always made sure to play Italian works that were deserving of recognition and had been shoved to the back of the drawer,” Dego said in a 2025 interview with the San Diego Tribune.“One reason it’s been neglected is that it’s extremely difficult technically. I really love the piece. It’s certainly as good, if not better, than many more frequently played works. And as an Italian, I’m proud of that. Audiences deserve to hear good music that they might not necessarily know.”