Biography
Winning admirers and exciting audiences, conductor Raffaele Ponti is known as an artist of dynamic personality, charismatic performances, and superb musicianship.
Diana Eblen of the Austin Symphony writes: “Maestro Ponti is passionate about music and conducting and that passion shines through when he steps onto the podium…a living embodiment of “connecting people to the symphony and the symphony to the people, no matter what the age or orchestral series,” -- his personal motto. A dynamic personality with excellent people skills makes him a favorite with everyone, orchestra, audience, board members and sponsors. And his commitment to excellence is evident throughout his performances. His deep knowledge of repertoire is reflected in outstanding programming.”
Raffaele’s engaging personality, passionate pursuit of musical excellence and elegant style reflect his extensive conducting experience in Europe and North America. With an increasing artistic reputation built solidly on audience success, he now divides his time between Italy and the United States, conducting many of the world's finest orchestras and soloists.
He began his training on the violin, piano and trumpet. His trumpet teachers were Armando Ghitalla and Bernard Adelstein. By the age of 17 he was performing with the Rochester Philharmonic with David Zinman. At age 19 he was performing as assistant principal trumpet to Bernard Adelstein of the Cleveland Orchestra with conductor, Lorin Maazel. He also performed as principal trumpet with the Mantovani Orchestra, Eastern Brass Quintet, Metropolitan Brass Quintet, and at the Casals Music Festival.
Working with renowned conductors Lorin Maazel, Yoel Levi, Klaus Tennstedt, Sir Colin Davis and David Zinman is what inspired Raffaele to pursue a conducting career. His conducting teachers include Giuseppe Sinopoli, Klaus Tennstedt, Jorge Mester and Paul Vermel. Mr. Ponti is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Raffaele has won numerous awards including prize-winner of the Mario Gusella International Conductors Competition in Pescara, Italy; Italian Man of the Year; and the Bernard Adelstein Prize from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Mr. Ponti’s current professional associations include (among others): Regular Guest Conductor: Austin Symphony Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor: Italia Konzert Opera, Artistic Director and Conductor: Festival di Musica da Camera, Artistic Director and Conductor: Empire State Lyric Theatre, Artistic Director and Conductor: Rochester Sinfonietta, Regular Guest Conductor: Toscana Opera Festival.
Recent and forthcoming appearances include: Sofia Symphony Orchestra, Montreal Opera Festival, Pescara Symphony Orchestra, ltalia Konzert Opera, Siena Symphony Orchestra, Pescara Chamber Orchestra, Sofia Opera Orchestra, Teatro Lirico di Europe, Toscana Opera Festival, Varna State Opera Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Billings Symphony Orchestra, Genesee Symphony Orchestra, Genesee Valley Orchestra and Chorus, Eastman School of Music. In addition, Mr. Ponti has conducted orchestras throughout Italy including: Roma; Siena; Arezzo, Pistoia, Lucca, Pisa, Firenze, Grosseto, Venezia, Padova, Treviso, Milano, Perugia, Massa, Terni, Bologna, Ferrara, and Pesaro.
Mr. Ponti has worked with world class artists David Kim, lIya Kaler, Dave Mancini, Phillipe Quint, Paola Romano, Vittorio Grigolo, Maurizio Graziani, Stefano Algieri, Mariana Paunova, Silvja dalla Benetta, Ettore Nova, George Petean, Claudia Marchi, Salvador Carbo', Tatiana Lisnic, Carlos Almaguer, Patrizia Cigna, Michela Sburlati, Galina Kalinina, Mina Tasca, Stanislas Arraez, Alessandro Busi, Mauro Augustini and Ambra Vespasiani.
His opera triumphs with the Italian public have included performances of: Tosca, Il Trovatore, Nabucco, Madama Butterfly, L’Elisir d’amore, Carmen, Aida, La Boheme and Rigoletto.
