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Live from the Mead Witter School of Music presents:
Orchestra Luigi Cherubini

Presented in partnership with The Italian Cultural Institute and the UW–Madison Department of French and Italian

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Founded by Riccardo Muti in 2004, the “Luigi Cherubini” Youth Orchestra was named after one of the finest composers of all times, born in Italy but active all over Europe. This choice underlines the Orchestra’s vocation, combining a strong Italian identity with a natural inclination towards a European vision of music and culture.

The Orchestra, a privileged link between the conservatoires and the professional world, welcomes young instrumentalists selected through audition by a panel consisting of top musicians from prestigious European orchestras, headed by Riccardo Muti himself.

Since its foundation, under Muti’s baton, the orchestra has performed a repertoire ranging from Baroque to 20th century music, in Italy and the world, in the most prestigious theatres of Vienna, Paris, Moscow, Cologne, St. Petersburg, Madrid, Barcelona, Lugano, Muscat, Manama, Abu Dhabi, Buenos Aires and Tokyo. From 2007 to 2011, the Orchestra was the protagonist of a project that the Salzburg Whitsun Festival and the Ravenna Festival created with Riccardo Muti for the rediscovery and valorization of the musical heritage of 18th century Naples. In 2015, the Orchestra then made its Salzburg debut, where it was the only Italian ensemble invited to the prestigious Summer Festival: Muti conducted them in Ernani, which they had already performed in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna in 2008, a few months before receiving the “Abbiati” Prize.

The Orchestra can boast many prestigious collaborations, including those with Claudio Abbado, John Axelrod, James Conlon, Dennis Russell Davies, Kevin Farrell, Patrick Fournillier, Valery Gergiev, Herbie Hancock, Leonidas Kavakos, Lang Lang, Ute Lemper, Alexander Lonquich, Wayne Marshall, Kurt Masur, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Kent Nagano, Krzysztof Penderecki, Vadim Repin, Giovanni Sollima, Yuri Temirkanov and Pinchas Zukerman.

The Orchestra’s ties with Riccardo Muti made it a perfect match for the Maestro’s Italian Opera Academy for young conductors and répétiteurs since its first edition in 2015. The “Cherubini” was also the protagonist of a concert that Muti conducted at the Quirinale on the occasion of G20 Culture 2021.

In June 2024 the Orchestra celebrated their 20 years of activity with a return to the Vienna Musikverein, and with a Puccini centenary concert in Lucca broadcast worldwide. On both occasions, the Orchestra was conducted by Riccardo Muti.

Cello Quartet: Composed of four young and talented musicians from the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra, the cello quartet was formed in 2024 out of their desire to explore and expand the musical possibilities offered by this type of ensemble. Since its inception, the group has performed a variety of programs ranging from the original repertoire for cello quartet to adaptations of classical and operatic works that showcase the virtuosity of the four musicians.

Francesco Angelico: Born in Catania in 1999, he graduated from the Bellini Conservatory and subsequently continued his studies with Enrico Dindo at the Pavia Cello Academy and with Giovanni Sollima at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. He has participated in various masterclasses with illustrious cellists among which Mischa Maisky, and has performed in important international festivals, making his debut at the Teatro la Fenice in 2022 and at La Scala in Milan in 2023. Francesco currently plays with various ensembles and orchestras including the Orchestras of the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples of the Teatro dell’Opera Carlo Felice in Genoa, and of the Teatro Lirico of Cagliari.

Matteo Bodini: Born in Silandro in 1992, he began studying cello under the guidance of Maria Tutzer at the Merano music school, continuing his studies at the Mozarteum in Salzburg with Prof. Litschauer and Prof. Riebl and then at the “C. Monteverdi” in Bolzano. In addition to having ranked among the winners of the Austrian National Competition “Prima la musica” several times (2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011), he obtained the 1st overall prize at the National Competition “Jan Langosz” in 2011 and the second prize in the competition of chamber music “Carlo Maria Giulini” in 2014 in Bolzano. He regularly collaborates, also as first cellist, with various orchestras and ensembles such as the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo, the Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano and Trento, Orchester der Akademie St. Blasius Innsbruck, Labirinti Armonici, Innsbrucker Hofmusik, Athesis Ensemble.

Luca Dondi: Born in 2000 from a family of musicians, he started playing at a very young age and graduated with honors in cello at the age of 20 from the G. Martini Conservatory in Bologna under maestro Antonio Mostacci. He also studied with Andres Lopez, Evan Shan, Anatole LIebermann, Enrico Dindo and Giovanni Sollima. He has performed a variety of concerts in Italian and foreign theaters and festivals such as Teatro Arcimboldi in Milan and Teatro Colosseo in Turin, both as a soloist and in various chamber ensembles, including the Febo trio which he co-founded in 2022 and with whom he is currently studying at the Stauffer Academy in Cremona.

Luigi Visco: Born in Naples in 2000, Luigi graduated at the age of 19 from the Conservatory in Salerno with full marks and honors. He continued his training at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia with Giovanni Sollima and Ivan Rabaglia, and obtained the Stauffer Artist Diploma from the Stauffer Academy in 2022, 2023 and 2024 where he studied with Antonio Meneses. He won several prizes in national and international competitions and has been collaborating with various orchestras including the Rome Opera Theater Orchestra, the Filarmonica of Milan, the Italian Youth Orchestra and the Ensemble Novecento.

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“Live from the Mead Witter School of Music” is a chamber music series held the second Sunday of each month at the Hamel Music Center during the academic year.

The series is made available by the generosity of donors to the David and Kato Perlman Live from the Mead Witter School of Music Fund.