IN his native Italy he heads up the first festival ever established to celebrate the world-renowned opera composer Giacomo Puccini.
But Professor Andreas Colombini's heart belongs to the bagpipes, and he has reaffirmed his love affair with Caledonia by attending his 33rd Edinburgh Tattoo.
Prof Colombini was the guest of the Scots Guards at this year's celebration of military music, and is returning home to fly the flag for Scotland.
Read more: Playing the bagpipes could prove fatal, research reveals
The 48-year-old is the director of the annual celebration of the music of Puccini, the genius behind La Boheme, Tosca and madame Butterfly, which takes place each year in the composer's home town of Lucca in Tuscany.
But when he is not arranging orchestras, tenors and sopranos, Professor Colombini, says his favourite pastime is listening to pipe bands.
He said: "I love coming to Scotland and I have been coming here since I was 15-years-old. My favourite place to visit in the world is the island of Islay, followed by Edinburgh and the Tattoo.
"I do not know where this connection with Scotland comes from because there are no Scots on any sides of my family."
He joked: "Maybe it is because I am Andrea Colombini, and you have a St Andrew and a St Columba here, and it was preordained that I would love Scotland.
"In Italy I am considered an unofficial ambassador for Scotland and an honorary Scotsman."
The ardent Scotophile is a well-known face in his home town of Lucca because of his tartan-coated mini, which is decorated in the Royal Stewart colours, but is soon to be updated to the Black Watch pattern.
Read more: Playing the bagpipes could prove fatal, research reveals
He spends his time bringing the music of Scotland to Italy when he is not organising opera singers and orchestras for the festival, and has staged a number of concerts starring regimental pipe bands, including the musicians from the Gordon Highlanders and the Scots Guards among others.
Professor Colombini, who is himself a conductor and musician said that he would rather work with pipers and drummers than tenors and sopranos, as the Scots are much easier to direct.
He said: "I work with military bands only, and it gives the lads an opportunity to come to Tuscany, which they might not usually get, so it's very popular.
"They are extremely easy to work with and are all extremely accomplished musicians, which makes the conductor's job very simple to do.
"And because they are in the army they are very open to instructions on how to play and how to make the music work."
He added that despite his love of bagpipe music, he has been unable to learn the instrument himself, despite many attempts.
Read more: Playing the bagpipes could prove fatal, research reveals
Prof Colombini said: "It is a wonderful instrument, but very difficult to play. Too difficult for me.
"I play piano and am a percussionist and have tried to pick up the bagpipes, but they are very hard to learn. It makes me appreciate the musicians of the pipe bands so much more.
"I am not upset when I have such beautiful music to listen to."
This year's Tattoo saw Scottish Soldier Lance Bombardier Megan Beveridge make piping history, becoming the first regular army female Lone Piper to perform at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
The 21-year-old piper is also the youngest person, and only woman, to pass the Army Pipe Major’s course.
Each night of the Tattoo was a sell-out, with 8800 people cramming into Edinburgh castle to watch massed pipe bands and military musicians from around the world.
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