Leonardo Vordoni
Conductors
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Manager: Michael Benchetrit
Management Territory: Worldwide
“Italian conductor Leonardo Vordoni gives a classy, understated interpretation of the score, capturing the transparency of Rossini’s orchestration with the utmost sophistication. He follows the singers, who play with the arias, which conveys a sense of freedom throughout the evening.” —Il Barbiere di Siviglia - Houston 2011: Theodore Bale, CultureMap Houston, October 23, 2011
“[‘La Bohème’] conducted with warmth and knowing breadth by Leonardo Vordoni made a fine evening. […] Vordoni fostered and sustained an impression of impetuous freshness of utterance ideal for ‘Bohème’.” —La Bohème - Santa Fe 2011: David Shengold, Opera, November 2011
“Chicago Opera Theater’s excellent cast and superb conductor lead Rossini’s static 'Moses' out of the desert.” “Leonardo Vordoni’s musical direction was faultless, the Italian conductor bringing lively tempos, idiomatic pacing, and attentive detailing of Rossini’s score with scrupulous balancing of ensembles and chorus throughout.” —Mosè in Egitto - Chicago 2010: Lawrence Johnson, Chicago Classical Review, April 18, 2010
About
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.
Last season Mr. Vordoni made his debut with Houston Grand Opera conducting
Il Barbiere di Siviglia followed by a return to Minnesota Opera for Lucia di Lammermoor and La Bohème with the Green Mountain Opera Festival. Current projects include La Bohème with the Minnesota Opera and Don Giovanni with the Peabody Institute. Future engagements include a return to . . . Opera Colorado in Rigoletto as well as debuts with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City in I Capuleti ed i Montecchi, the Michigan Opera Theatre in La Traviata, Opera Omaha in La Cenerentola and the Opéra National de Bordeaux in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena.
Mr. Vordoni’s recent engagements featured three of Puccini’s greatest works: La Bohème with Santa Fe Opera and Utah Opera, Tosca at Opera on the James, and Turandot at Portland Opera. He made an important debut with the Canadian Opera Company with La Cenerentola.
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.
Updated April 2013
