Biography

Renato Balsadonna is an Italian symphonic and operatic conductor.

History

Born in Venice, Balsadonna first worked as a repetiteur at La Fenice, Venice, and Teatro Verdi, Trieste, before moving on to the post of Assistant Chorus Master in Basel. He also assisted Norbert Balatsch at the Bayreuth Festival in 1999 and 2000.

He then enjoyed a long working relationship with Sir Antonio Pappano, who appointed him Chorus Director at Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in 1997. Balsadonna later joined Pappano at The Royal Opera House, London, where he was their celebrated Chorus Director from 2004-2016.

Also recognised for his considerable gifts as an orchestral conductor, Balsadonna conducted several main stage productions at The Royal Opera House, including I due Foscari, The Minotaur and Nabucco.

Balsadonna has had successful collaborations with numerous opera houses and orchestras as a guest conductor. He has developed strong relationships with:

Collaborations

Collaborations

  • Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London (Madama Butterfly, La Bohéme, Nabucco, La Traviata)

  • Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg (Nabucco, Lucrezia Borgia)

  • Teatro La Fenice, Venice (Madama Butterfly)

  • Cincinnati Opera (La Traviata, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Lucia di Lammermoor)

  • Teatro Regio,Turin (La Sonnambula)

  • Oviedo Opera (Norma)

  • Frankfurt Opera (Don Carlo, Lucia di Lammermoor)

  • Opéra de Nice (Tosca, Norma)

  • Opéra de Wallonie, Liége (Lucia di Lammermoor)

  • Teatro de La Maestranza, Seville (Lucia di Lammermoor)

As a symphonic conductor, Balsadonna works regularly with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Lithuania National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto and the Orchestra of Opera North.

Recordings

The recording of Maestro Balsadonna’s conducting DECCA debut album PASSIONE with celebrated tenor Freddie De Tommaso and London Philharmonic Orchestra has been one of the most successful album in the recent years, winning awards and been on the top of the Official Classical Albums Chart for months.

A CD of the Brahms' Piano Concertos conducting the Lithuania National Symphonic Orchestra has also recently released.

Balsadonna has further participated in recordings for EMI, Deutsche Grammophon, Warner Classics, SonyClassical, Opera Rara, and Chandos.

Renato Balsadonna