Orchestra and conductor
Final with orchestra: October 14th 2023Founded in 1993 by Vladimir Delman, the Orchestra immediately became an essential reference for the great symphonic repertoire in Milan and the surrounding area. Since 1999, the orchestra has been conducted by three highly prestigious conductors: Riccardo Chailly (1999 – 2005), whose experience has made the orchestra one of the most important national and international symphonies, capable of tackling a repertoire that ranges from Bach to the cornerstones of 19th-century symphonies to 20th-century music; Zhang Xian (2009 – 2016), the first woman conductor to hold such a position in Italy; and Claus Peter Flor (2017/18 – ongoing).
Throughout its history, the orchestra has hosted some of the most illustrious batons of the second half of the 20th century, from Carlo Maria Giulini to Peter Maag, from Georges Prêtre to Vladimir Fedoseyev, Helmuth Rilling, Patrick Fournillier and Riccardo Muti. Among the great soloists featured in memorable concerts are Martha Argerich , Aldo Ceccato, Tibor Varga, Steven Isserlis, Lilya Zilberstein , Roberto Prosseda, Kolja Blacher and Yefim Bronfman.
Besides its continuous presence in Milan with a rich symphonic season, the Orchestra is often invited to prestigious halls in Italy and abroad. Among the most iconic engagements were two tours in the 2009/10 season: the first in the main theatres in Switzerland, with Roberto Abbado conducting, the second in Italy with Wayne Marshall . In 2011, the Orchestra and choral ensembles were invited to the inauguration of the Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman for a performance of Bizet’s Carmen (conductor Patrick Fourniller). In 2012, the Orchestra, conducted by Jader Bignamini and with the participation of violinist Francesca Dego, was the protagonist of a triumphant tour in Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg), on the occasion of Banca Intesa Sanpaolo’s 40th anniversary in Moscow.
Francesco Ommassini
Born in Venice, he completed his musical studies of violin and composition in his hometown, graduating with top marks and honours. After specialising in the major international academies (Hochschule in Vienna, Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Scuola di Musica di Fiesole) he soon embarked on a brilliant concert career that led him to perform in the most prestigious concert halls and major international festivals (Musikverein in Vienna, Lincoln Center in New York, Sydney Opera House, Philharmonie in Berlin, Salzburg Festival, Mostly Mozart etc.). Since 1996, he has held the position of first violin of seconds at the Orchestra of the Fondazione Arena di Verona; being part of one of the most important opera houses in the world and the contact and collaboration with the greatest conductors of our time stimulated his desire to tackle the study of conducting; among them, the meeting with Donato Renzetti, with whom he studied and graduated at the Accademia Musicale Pescarese.
Since his debut in 2012 at the theatre in Ferrara with Rigoletto, his career has taken him to perform both in the opera and symphonic field in important theatres and festivals (Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Teatro la Fenice in Venice, Teatro Filarmonico in Verona, Teatro Lirico in Cagliari, Teatro Bellini in Catania, Teatro Abbado in Ferrara, Teatro Comunale in Treviso, Teatro Alighieri in Ravenna, Teatro di Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Pavia, Cremona for Operalombardia). Recent engagements include the presence on the prestigious programme of the Settembre dell’Accademia in Verona, the first performance in modern times of Paisiello’s opera Zenobia in Palmira in Naples as part of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death, (a production from which a Bongiovanni CD was made) the Pietra de Paragone at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari in Barberio Corsetti’s successful show, the Viaggio a Reims at the Filarmonico di Verona, for the Rete Lirica delle Marche with Elisir d’Amore , in a new production of Traviata in the theatres of Ferrara, Treviso and Rovigo , in a series of symphony concerts at the Teatro Olimpico di Vicenza and at the Bellini di Catania ; again at the Filarmonico for Madama Butterfly and Italiana in Algeri , at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples with a concert dedicated to Mercadante , at the Basilica di San Zeno in Verona with Rossini’s Petite messe , with the Sicilian Symphony Orchestra for the final concert of the Bellini Reinassance review.
Again at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari in Don Pasquale, in the inaugural concert of the Luglio Musicale Trapanese, in a new production of Così fan tutte in Verona and in an opera gala in Moscow with the Novaya Russia orchestra.
His next engagements will see him on the podium of the Filarmonico for Rigoletto, debuting at the Teatro Regio di Torino for De Giosa’s Don Checco and in Seoul with Traviata. From 2014 to 2019 he was Music Director of the Veneto Regional Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta.
Since 2019 he has been resident conductor at the Fondazione Arena di Verona.
