Sebastiano De Filippi is considered by the press as one of the most interesting conductors among the maestros emerged in recent years from South America. Unanimously praised for his interpretation of the great classics of Western music, he is also highly respected for his work towards presenting lesser known pieces, and for his commitment to Argentina’s and Italy’s cultural life.

He studied with a pupil of Antonino Votto, a legendary figure who was Arturo Toscanini’s main assistant and Riccardo Muti’s only teacher. He is a licentiate of the United Kingdom’s Royal Schools of Music in symphony orchestra music direction, with the highest marks (“with distinction”). He attended specialization courses at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena (Italy), at the Escuela de Altos Estudios Musicales in Cordova (Spain) and at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires (Argentina).  He completed his background by following Gianluigi Gelmetti, Claudio Abbado and Riccardo Muti in rehearsal.

His musical training –acquired while also studying humanities at the university– includes studies in choral conducting, composition, chamber music, piano and voice, developed between Italy, Spain and Argentina. His experience also embraces fifteen years of work as vocal soloist (baritone) on Latin America’s main stages, including Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, singing with artists like Nadine Secunde, Chris Merritt, Marcelo Álvarez, José Cura, Juan Pons and Kurt Rydl.

He was a finalist in several international conducting competitions. He started his podium work in front of the Orquesta Lírica de Buenos Aires (with which he also performed in Córdoba and La Pampa) and its Camerata Lírica, and of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Mendoza, the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal de Mar del Plata, the Orquesta de Cámara Municipal de Rosario and the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal de Avellaneda.  In 2014 he made his debut with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional of Argentina at its home at the time, the Auditorio de Belgrano.

His international career took him to Paraguay with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Congreso Nacional, to Chile with the Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad de La Serena, to Ecuador with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Cuenca, to Mexico with the Orquesta de Cámara de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Monterrey, to the United States with the Winchester Orchestra of San José, Valparaiso University Symphony Orchestra, Cadek Orchestra in Chattanooga and La Sierra University Orchestra in Riverside, to Egypt with the Orkestra el-Qāhera el-Semfōni, to Czechia with the Komorní Filharmonie Pardubice, to Holland with the Hanze Symfonieorkest Zwolle, to Spain with the Joven Orquesta Sinfónica de Valladolid, to Italy with the Orchestra Sinfonica Città di Grosseto, Orchestra da Camera delle Marche in Fermo and John Cabot Chamber Orchestra in Rome.

Theses experiences allowed him to work with world renowned soloists like Hana Kotková, Alberto Nosè, Gianfranco Bortolato, Rodolfo Mederos, Daniel Binelli and Adelaide Negri. Further engagements for the two upcoming seasons include appearances as orchestral conductor at Buenos Aires’ Teatro Colón and at La Plata’s Teatro Argentino, as ballet conductor in the United States and as opera conductor in Seoul, where he will conduct Henning Brockhaus’ production of “La traviata”.

He served as programming director at the Teatro Municipal Roma de Avellaneda, music director for the Ópera de La Pampa, artistic director of the Festival Pergolesi de Buenos Aires, honorary director at the Asociación Cultural “Antonio Salieri” and associate conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica Giovanile di Legnago, and also as artistic consultant for several State institutions.

With an experience in a chamber, symphonic, choral-symphonic and ballet repertoire that ranges from early baroque to world premieres of contemporary music, including cross-over pieces, he is particularly well-known for his operatic performances. Among the twenty opera productions he was responsible for, the South American premiere of Verdi’s “Un giorno di regno” received praise from the international press and a new production of “Aida” earned him the first of two Stimulus Prizes awarded by of the Music Critics Association of the Argentine Republic.

He is very active as a researcher, teacher and popularizer in the field of classical music. He has been invited to teach, lecture and work with youth ensembles at educational and cultural institutions of Italy (Accademia Salieri Mozart in Legnago), Spain (Casa de Zorrilla in Valladolid), the United States (San José State University, Valparaiso University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, La Sierra University in Riverside, Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Empire Opera in New York City), Ecuador (Ministerio de Cultura y Patrimonio in Cuenca), Chile (Universidad de La Serena) and Argentina (Universidad Torcuato Di Tella and Centro Cultural Kirchner in Buenos Aires, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto).

He collaborates as a writer with Teatro Colón's magazine and program books, and for the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional, among other institutions. He was one of the main collaborators for the book “Corresponding with Carlos: a biography of Carlos Kleiber” by Charles Barber and is co-author of “Alta en el cielo: vida y obra de Héctor Panizza”, the first book about the renowned conductor who was Toscanini’s right hand during his first season as artistic director at the Teatro alla Scala.

Since September 2013 he is Music Director of the Orquesta de Cámara del Congreso Nacional in Argentina, position for which he was selected among more than seventy applicants through an international tender organized in collaboration with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional, with a jury chaired by Pedro Ignacio Calderón. With this ensemble he has appeared, among other halls, at Centro Cultural Kirchner.

He is a member of both the Conductors Guild and the League of American Orchestras.

 

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