Quick Facts
Biography
Claudio Scimone (born 23 December 1934) is an Italian conductor.
He was born in Padua, Italy and studied conducting with Dmitri Mitropoulos and Franco Ferrara. He has established an international reputation as a conductor, as well as a composer. He has revived many baroque and renaissance works. His discography includes over 150 titles, and he has won numerous prizes, including the Grand Prix du Disque of the Académie Charles Cros.
Claudio Scimone is the founder of I Solisti Veneti (the ensemble with which most of his recordings have been made) and is the honorary conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon, Portugal.
With the Philharmonia of London, he conducted the first recording of Muzio Clementi’s Symphonies.
Scimone led the world to discover the importance of Vivaldi’s theatrical works, beginning with the first modern performance of Orlando furioso, featuring Marilyn Horne and Victoria de Los Angeles.
In the reborn Fenice Claudio Scimone directed the first modern revival of the Venetian version of Maometto secondo by Rossini.
He has also given the modern premieres of Moses in Egypt and Oedipus at Colonus by Rossini, and The Last Judgement by Salieri.
Claudio Scimone has been awarded the title of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (the highest ranking honour of the Republic). He also has been awarded an honorary law degree from the University of Padua.