TOSCA
Artistic Staff

LEONARDO VORDONI, conductor

Originally from Trieste, Italy, the fast-rising conductor Leonardo Vordoni studied conducting at the Accademia Pescarese with Gilberto Serembe, and earned a diploma in opera conducting at Bologna’s Reale Accademia Filarmonica.

Mr. Vordoni’s current season includes two of Puccini’s greatest works: La Bohème at Utah Opera and Turandot at Portland Opera. An important debut will follow with La Cenerentola at the Canadian Opera Company.

Leonardo Vordoni began the 2009-10 season conducting Les Pêcheurs de Perles at Minnesota Opera, followed by a revival of Dominick Argento’s Casanova’s Homecoming. Later in the season, he made two consecutive debuts in Chicago; first conducting Le Nozze di Figaro at Lyric Opera of Chicago followed by Rossini’s Mosè in Egitto at Chicago Opera Theatre. Of his performances in Le Nozze di Figaro, John van Rhein at the Chicago Tribune wrote: “Mindful of the singers’ needs, he infused the orchestral playing with crisp vitality and shapely phrasing.” Regarding Mosè in Egitto Opera News raved: “Maestro Leonardo Vordoni led a splendidly nuanced reading of verve and melting grace.” Additional engagements included Il barbiere di Siviglia at Opera Colorado and Lucia di Lammermoor at Green Mountain Opera Festival.

In recent seasons, Mr. Vordoni debuted at the prestigious Wexford Opera Festival in Pedrotti’s Tutti in Maschera giving what critics called a “scintillating performance.” Other productions include: Don Pasquale at Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Madama Butterfly with Madison Opera and La Cenerentola at Orlando Opera. In the summer of 2008, Mr. Vordoni conducted at the internationally renowned Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro; in a concert of music associated with Maria Malibran, with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.

Leonardo Vordoni was a member of the music staff at the Metropolitan Opera and worked on productions including: L’Elisir d'Amore (cover conductor), Macbeth, La Traviata, Aida, La Clemenza di Tito, La Bohème, Un Ballo in Maschera, Norma and Madama Butterfly.

Collaborations with Edoardo Müller include L’Italiana in Algeri with Seattle Opera, La Cenerentola for Houston Grand Opera, as well as Il Trovatore and Le Nozze di Figaro for San Diego Opera.

Leonardo Vordoni has given master classes in Italian repertoire for Young Artist Programs across the United States including: San Francisco Opera, Seattle Opera, Utah Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Kansas University, UMKC Conservatory, University of North Texas in conjunction with La Fenice in Castelfranco Veneto as well as coaching for the Accademia Rossiniana in Pesaro. Additional studies include: piano at the Conservatorio Tartini with Neva Merlak, and composition at the Accademia Musicale in Portogruaro with Mario Pagotto.