Filarmonica della Scala

Filarmonica della Scala was founded in 1982 by the musicians of La Scala Opera House and Claudio Abbado with the aim of developing the symphonic repertoire. It has remained a self-directed ensemble to this day. Carlo Maria Giulini was its first conductor and leaded the first international tours; Riccardo Muti, principal conductor from 1987 to 2005, promotes its artistic growth and makes it a regular guest of the most prestigious international concert halls. From the outset it has been led by a series of internationally renowned conductors, including Leonard Bernstein, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Seiji Ozawa, Zubin Mehta, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Riccardo Chailly, Yuri Temirkanov, Daniele Gatti, Fabio Luisi, Gustavo Dudamel. A deep collaboration has been established with Myung-Whun Chung, named Conductor Emeritus, and Daniel Harding. Daniel Barenboim, music director of La Scala from 2006 to 2015, and Valery Gergiev are honorary members, just as Georges Prêtre, Lorin Maazel, Wolfgang Sawallisch were. In 2015 Riccardo Chailly was named principal conductor. During the years that followed, the orchestra has reached a new performance standard. The tours they undertook and the recordings they have made also contributed to the reputation of the group.

Filarmonica performed more than 800 concerts on tour. Important milestones have included the Orchestra’s debut in the United States with Riccardo Chailly and in China with Myung-Whun Chung. The Orchestra has a particular interest in contemporary music from the beginning and every season features a new commission to an important composer of our time. 

From 2013 Filarmonica della Scala hosts the “Concerto per Milano” in Piazza Duomo, an acclaimed free event which has made more than 40.000 people attendance every year. The educational project “Sound, Music!”, dedicated to primary school children, brings music to wider audiences and gives special attention to young people. Filarmonica also supports Milan’s main scientific institutions and voluntary bodies through special concerts and open rehearsals belonging to the series “Prove Aperte”. 

Filarmonica has made numerous recordings. In 2017 Decca has published “Ouvertures, Preludes and Intermezzi” from operas premiered at La Scala and in 2019 “The Fellini Album” with film music by Nino Rota followed by “Cherubini Discoveries” and “Respighi”, both part of the acclaimed series celebrating the great Italian composers. Last release celebrates music inspired by Italy and includes Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony alongside Schubert’s two Rossini-inspired overtures “In the Italian Style” and three early Mozart overtures to Italian operas first performed in Milan. 

Filarmonica della Scala’s activity is supported by the Main Partner UniCredit.