Musical Studies and Experience

Leonardo Gasparini was a close disciple of Maestro Sergiu Celibidache from  1978-1996 participating in the International Conductors’ courses held with the Munich Philharmonic and regularly attending the
Musical Phenomenology Seminars held at the Gutenberg University of Mainz.

From 1986-1992 he was assistant conductor to Zoltan Pesko in various productions in Italy and abroad.
He worked with Claudio Abbado on the productions of Viaggio a Reims by Rossini at the Festival Rossini in Pesaro 1984, and of Prometeo by Luigi Nono at the Festival della Biennale di Venezia, 1984.

Leonardo Gasparini graduated from the Conservatory B. Marcello of Venice, Italy.  He specialized in piano, chorus direction and composition.  He also studied Philosophy at the University of “Ca’ Foscari”, Venice, Italy.

From 1980-1992 he taught orchestral ensemble practice in various conservatories in Italy.

From 1983-1987 he was “Maestro Collaboratore”–Stage Musical Director–at Teatro La Fenice of Venice, Italy.

Leonardo Gasparini has been Chief Conductor of  the Orquesta Filarmonica de Jalisco, in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Leonardo Gasparini has recorded for RAI (Italian Radio) and ORF (Austrian Radio).
He founded the String Orchestra Sinfonietta Veneta, an ensemble that performed throughout Italy and other European countries (Teatro La Fenice, Venice, 1992; Auditorium RAI, Rome 1990; Società dei Concerti, Milan 1990; Lukaskirche in Munich, 1990). In 1987, Sinfonietta Veneta received First Prize at the XVI International Competition of the Festival of Vienna as well as a Special Recognition Prize from Austrian Radio for the best Radio Concert.

He also performed as pianist of the Quartetto di Venezia throughout Europe (1979-1983).

Leonardo Gasparini collaborated 15 years with Antoine Duhamel,  French composer of the “Nouvelle Vague”, in various musical projects, from film music to live symphonic concerts, among others.

Since 1997, he is Artistic Director of the project  Festival of New European Opera.
From 1993-1999 he was resident conductor at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris.
From January 2000 to August 2006 he was Associate Professor at the
Ecole Normale Supérieure de Paris, where he was responsable for all musical activities.

In 2003, 2004 and 2005, Leonardo Gasparini held three international courses for conductors in Guadalajara and Jalapa, Mexico, in collaboration with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco.

Leonardo Gasparini was born in Venice, Italy.  He is married and has three children.

Languages: Italian, French, Spanish, English and German.