Conductor: Marco Balderi
Born in Seravezza, Marco Balderi completed his studies in piano at the L. Boccherini Musical Institute of Lucca, before entering the L. Cherubini Conservatory of Florence, where he obtained the diplomas of choir conductor, harpsichord and organ. He then entered the S. Cecilia Conservatory of Rome where he completed studies of orchestra conductor, and obtained the degree with honors. Between 1984 and 1989, Balderi worked as assistant to many famous conductors, such as C. Abbado, R. Chailly, C. M. Giulini, J. Levine, Z. Mehta, R. Muti, G. Patanè and W. Sawallisch in important theatres such as the Teatro alla Scala and the Salzburg Festival. From 1992 to 1996, Marco Balderi conducted the choir of the Florence Opera House, which gave him the opportunity to collaborate with Z. Mehta and S. Bychkov in numerous productions. He also gained deep knowledge of the opera vocality. Marco Balderi began his career as orchestra conductor after winning the International Competitions of Salzburg and Alessandria. He toured Austria, Korea, Kazakhstan, France, Germany, Japan, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and Mexico City, conducting the following 200 orchestras and to study an incredibly wide repertoire 300 operas, he held direct memorable success at the Opera of Rome, Firenze, Parma, Padova, Bologna, Palermo, Puccini Festival of Torre del Lago, Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Opera Bastille in Paris, Toulon, Bordeaux, Festival of Nijgata, Korea National Opera, Opera of Boston, Indiana, Opera of Mexico city, Opera of New Delhi, Opera of Kazakhstan etc. From 2009 to 2011, he conducted and the Korea National Opera’s <Norma>, <Macbeth>, and <Un Ballo in Maschera>. In 2012 at Opera Festival of Korea he conducted Opera <Tosca> and <Rigoletto>. In June 2013 He will conduct Opera <Tosca> at the Seoul Arts Center of Seoul and Opera <La Bohème> at the Opera House of Daegu in September.
Orchestra: Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra
Since its establishment in April 1982, the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, a prestigious orchestra with a 30-year performing history, has played a leading role in classical music of this country, thanks to its many devoted music lovers. The Orchestra has built its fame through numerous performances both nationally at the Suwon International Music Festival, the Suwon International Music Competition, and the Peace and Piano Festival and internationally in concert tours in the USA, Canada, England, Spain, China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and other countries. It has collaborated with acclaimed artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Lang Lang, Cho Sumi, Chung Myung Whun, Paik Kun Woo, Kang Dong Seok and Cho Young Chang, contributing to the introduction of Suwon to the world as “the City of Culture.” The Orchestra has released many CDs, recording the memorable works of Berlioz, Wagner and Bruckner, and in 2012, to celebrate its 30-year anniversary, it added, under the conductorship of Kim Daejin, a release of Beethoven’s 2nd and 5th Symphonies in the SONY Classic label. In addition, a nine-city concert tour became a great success; it was the first time that a national orchestra had ever achieved this accomplishment. In 2012, the Orchestra received much audience praise by presenting the best performances with Gil Shaham, Mischa Maisky and Shin Youngok at the Suwon International Music Festival in 2012. Besides performing over sixty concerts a year, the Orchestra has various creative programs such as the 11am Human Concert, the Request Concert, as well as other family-centered concerts and educational programs to spread the beauty of classic music and raise young talents among its youthful audiences. Through periodical and special concerts, the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra continues its mission as a music messenger to deliver memorable, touching music to its audiences.