Joseph Rescigno
Encyclopedia
Joseph Rescigno is a conductor and Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor of the Florentine Opera Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the United States (since 1981). He also serves as Music Director of La Musica Lirica
festival in Italy. In addition, he was Artistic Director of Metropolitan Orchestra of Greater Montreal for four years during which time he made four of the recordings listed below and won Quebec’s Prix Opus for a program of all five Beethoven piano concertos with Anton Kuerti at the piano. The conductor Nicola Rescigno
, a founder of both the Dallas Opera
and Chicago Opera
companies, was his uncle.
Rescigno has conducted around the world from the New York City Opera
and the Montreal Symphony to companies in both of the Americas, Asia and Europe. He has conducted the masterworks of the choral literature and symphonies and concertos from the baroque to the modern era, sometimes conducting from the keyboard in works from the earlier eras. In opera, he has conducted virtually all of the core Italian opera repertory—including romantic, verismo, and bel canto operas—as well as the standard French and German repertory. The contemporary works he has conducted include the Florentine Opera’s first world premiere, Don Davis
’s Río de Sangre, in 2010. He is also working on his first book, The View From the Pit: Where Theater Meets Music.
For the Analekta label, Rescigno has made five recordings: four of works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Mozart along with Verismo (arias with Diana Soviero
) . Having conducted the world premiere of Minoru Miki’s Joruri, he recorded it with the Tokyo Symphony for Toei Video Disk.
Rescigno trained as a pianist and is a graduate of Fordam University
and the Manhattan School of Music
where he also served on the faculty. He studied with composer Nicolas Flagello
and other distinguished teachers in the United States and Europe, including privately at l’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He went on to work with such influential conductors as Laszlo Halasz
(founder of the New York City Opera
), Bruno Maderna
, Gianandrea Gavazzeni
, Carlo Moresco
, and his uncle
. Powerful influences also included pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
, conductors Herbert von Karajan
and Erich Leinsdorf
, as well as Roberto Benaglio, the legendary chorus master of La Scala
.
La Musica Lirica
La Musica Lirica is a five week training program structured for performance artists looking to gain hands-on training and experience, immersed in its environment, as a way to help bridge the gap between college and career...
festival in Italy. In addition, he was Artistic Director of Metropolitan Orchestra of Greater Montreal for four years during which time he made four of the recordings listed below and won Quebec’s Prix Opus for a program of all five Beethoven piano concertos with Anton Kuerti at the piano. The conductor Nicola Rescigno
Nicola Rescigno
Nicola Rescigno was an Italian-American conductor, particularly associated with the Italian opera repertory. Opera News said that "Rescigno was a seminal figure in the history of opera in America, a maestro and mentor who shaped the destiny and reputation of two major U.S...
, a founder of both the Dallas Opera
Dallas Opera
The Dallas Opera is an opera company located in Dallas, Texas . The company was founded in 1957 as the Dallas Civic Opera by Laurence Kelly and Nicolà Rescigno, both of whom had been active with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the first as administrator, the second as artistic director.-The company's...
and Chicago Opera
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
companies, was his uncle.
Rescigno has conducted around the world from the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
and the Montreal Symphony to companies in both of the Americas, Asia and Europe. He has conducted the masterworks of the choral literature and symphonies and concertos from the baroque to the modern era, sometimes conducting from the keyboard in works from the earlier eras. In opera, he has conducted virtually all of the core Italian opera repertory—including romantic, verismo, and bel canto operas—as well as the standard French and German repertory. The contemporary works he has conducted include the Florentine Opera’s first world premiere, Don Davis
Don Davis (composer)
Donald Romain Davis is an American film score composer, conductor, and orchestrator. Best known for his work on The Matrix, he has worked on a variety of films, from horror to comedy.- Early life :...
’s Río de Sangre, in 2010. He is also working on his first book, The View From the Pit: Where Theater Meets Music.
For the Analekta label, Rescigno has made five recordings: four of works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Mozart along with Verismo (arias with Diana Soviero
Diana Soviero
Diana Soviero is an American operatic soprano of international stature, a recipient of the Richard Tucker Award in 1979....
) . Having conducted the world premiere of Minoru Miki’s Joruri, he recorded it with the Tokyo Symphony for Toei Video Disk.
Rescigno trained as a pianist and is a graduate of Fordam University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
and the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
where he also served on the faculty. He studied with composer Nicolas Flagello
Nicolas Flagello
Nicolas Flagello , was an American composer of classical music.Flagello was born in New York City, into a very musical family. His brother Ezio Flagello was a bass who sang at the Metropolitan Opera. One of his first music teachers was the composer Vittorio Giannini, and he then studied at the...
and other distinguished teachers in the United States and Europe, including privately at l’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He went on to work with such influential conductors as Laszlo Halasz
Laszlo Halasz
Laszlo Halasz was an American opera director, conductor, and pianist of Hungarian birth. In 1943 he was appointed the first director of the New York City Opera; a position he held through 1951...
(founder of the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
), Bruno Maderna
Bruno Maderna
Bruno Maderna was an Italian conductor and composer. For the last ten years of his life he lived in Germany and eventually became a citizen of that country.-Biography:...
, Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Gianandrea Gavazzeni was an Italian pianist, conductor , composer and musicologist.Gavazzeni was born in Bergamo. For almost 50 years, starting from 1948, he was principal conductor at La Scala, Milan, in 1966-68 being its music and artistic director.He had his Metropolitan Opera debut on 11...
, Carlo Moresco
Carlo Moresco
Carlo Moresco was an American conductor, composer, violinist, and stage director of Italian birth. He was one of the most important opera conductors in the city of Philadelphia during the 20th century, working for multiple opera companies in that city...
, and his uncle
Nicola Rescigno
Nicola Rescigno was an Italian-American conductor, particularly associated with the Italian opera repertory. Opera News said that "Rescigno was a seminal figure in the history of opera in America, a maestro and mentor who shaped the destiny and reputation of two major U.S...
. Powerful influences also included pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli was a virtuoso Italian classical pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, as well as one of the most important Italian pianists along with Ferruccio Busoni and Maurizio Pollini.-Biography:Born in Brescia, Italy, he began...
, conductors Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan was an Austrian orchestra and opera conductor. To the wider world he was perhaps most famously associated with the Berlin Philharmonic, of which he was principal conductor for 35 years...
and Erich Leinsdorf
Erich Leinsdorf
Erich Leinsdorf was a naturalized American Austrian conductor. He performed and recorded with leading orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States and Europe, earning a reputation for exacting standards as well as an acerbic personality...
, as well as Roberto Benaglio, the legendary chorus master of La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
.