If he were not a violinist he would be studying molecular biology, he prefers to play with his children rather than teach them, he earned $32 by performing incognito on the subway for a Pulitzer-winning journalism experiment, he played himself in the TV series Mozart in the Jungle, he collaborated with Sony to create a signature Playstation virtual reality experience. There are no shortage of anecdotes about Joshua Bell, a violin superstar returning to Teatro alla Scala after eight years. With him is the young and volcanic Lahav Shani, who since his debut in 2022 has already earned a special place among the Filarmonica's favorite conductors.