Milan's Orchestra Verdi introduced today to the public their 2009-2010 season (.pdf file of the program here) and their new Music Director, American conductor Xian Zhang, former associate conductor of the NY Phil.
The day after tomorrow, she will lead the Orchestra Verdi in the Vatican, in the presence of the Italian President and the Pope (Haydn, Mozart and Vivaldi in the program). Her Milanese debut as MD will happen on September 6 at la Scala, with a Beethoven/Stravinsky program.
Buon lavoro to Maestra Zhang -- she's now leading an orchestra that experienced his first steps under Carlo Maria Giulini's benevolent direction -- Giulini climbed for the very last time on the podium for a rehearsal with La Verdi, and his first violin is kept on display at the orchestra's Auditorium -- and was later conducted by Riccardo Chailly, Riccardo Muti, Lorin Maazel. It's a young, talented orchestra passionately followed by a faithful Milanese audience: Opera Chic is sure we will experience many wonderful concerts.