Winning admirers and exciting audiences, conductor Raffaele Ponti is known as an artist of dynamic personality, charismatic performances, and superb musicianship. Ponti’s trademark is in the breadth of his vision, the clarity of his interpretation, and the rich beauty of his sound.
The Chicago Courier News writes,“Maestro Ponti is a rising star, someone gaining international acclaim and attention. He has a tremendous zest for music, an exuberance recalling both the roar and rush of a roller coaster ride. Fans worldwide say that his passion shows. Ponti brings an exhilarating energy level to center stage. It’s an electrifying swagger-empowering and enabling him to pull music from light to darkness and back again.”
David Kim, Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra writes, “Maestro Ponti is first and foremost, a wonderful and natural musician. Henry Fogel, former President, Chicago Symphony writes, “Ponti’s conducting is expressive, clear, emotionally communicative – frankly all the things I look for in conductors…very impressive.”
Raffaele Ponti is Artistic Director and Conductor of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Genesee Symphony Orchestra, and continues to appear with prominent orchestras around the United States and Europe. This season he led the Buffalo Philharmonic and Erie Philharmonic with immediate return engagements. He has also appeared with the orchestras of Rochester, Syracuse, Austin, Binghamton, Elgin, Billings, Utica, Schenectady, Southern Finger Lakes, and the New York and Kentucky All-State Orchestras. This season he makes his debut with the Charlotte Symphony. In Europe, the orchestras of Sofia, Varna, Pescara, Siena, and tours with Teatro Lirico d’europe and Italia Konzert Opera International, Italy’s largest touring Opera Company.
His opera triumphs with the Italian public have included performances of Tosca, Il Trovatore, Nabucco, Madama Butterfly, L’Elisir d’amore, Carmen, Aida, La Bohème, I Pagliacci, La Traviata and Rigoletto.
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. 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 and resourcefulness reflects his outstanding programming with collaborations with world class artists David Kim, Allen Vizzutti, David Halen, Michael Ludwig, Juana Zayas, Philippe Quint, Elena Urioste, Jeffrey Biegel, Pip Clarke, Robert Bonfiglio, Ettore Nova, and Ambra Vespasiani.
Ponti studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and before turning his hand to conducting, was a frequent performer in the trumpet sections of the Rochester Philharmonic with Maestro David Zinman, and the Cleveland Orchestra with Maestro Lorin Maazel.
To visit Maestro Ponti’s website, click here.
