Roberto Benzi

Roberto Benzi began to learn music at three years old. Before the age of ten he began his first lessons in orchestral conducting with Andre Cluytens. In 1948 came his own conducting debut, and with it, the definitive choice of a career. He became a part of such films: “Prelude to Glory” (1949), “Call of Destiny” (1952). Roberto Benzi Graduated from the Sorbonne University.

In 1954, in Marseille, Roberto Benzi conducted his first opera – Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville”. Since that time he has been engaged at a great number of opera houses: the Metropolitan Opera, New York; the National Theatre of Prague; the Theatre Royal de la Monnaie (National Theatre) Brussels; the Grand Theatre de Geneve; the Teatro Verdi, Trieste; the Sofia National Theatre etc. In 1959/60 he was engaged as musical director for the first “Carmen” ever to be performed at the Paris Opera Garnier.

Since 1960 he has recorded numerous works for the Philips label; also for E.M.I Classics, Forlane and Naxos. He was the founder and resident conductor of the Orchestre de Bordeaux-Aquitaine (1972 – 1987); musical and artistic director of the Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra (Het Gelders Orkest) from 1989 to 1998; and artistic supervisor and conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands (NJO) from 1991 to 1995. He has published various orchestrations by famous musicians. Also Roberto Benzi has taught conducting master classes. He holds the rank of Knight of the Legion d’honneur, the Ordre National du Merite, the Palmes Academiques and the Dutch Royal Ordre of Nederlandse Leeuw.