Founded in 1982, La Scala Chamber Orchestra is an ensemble with a rich history. Its musicians are selected from Milan’s renowned La Scala Orchestras: the Filarmonica della Scala and the Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala. La Scala Chamber Orchestra has performed in the most prestigious theatres and concert halls of the world and collaborated with internationally known conductors and soloists.
In July 2007 at Piazza del Duomo in Milan, before an audience of more than 10,000 people, La Scala Chamber Orchestra performed the four seasons of Antonio Vivaldi and Astor Piazzolla, with Francesco Manara as a soloist. The concert received rave reviews, and was so well received that it was performed again in Paris, at the Opera theatre in Warsaw, in Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia and in Moscow at the Ciaikovskj hall.
At the annual concert at Piazza del Duomo in 2008, audiences were thrilled by a performance by La Scala Chamber Orchestra of an original composition by composer Carlo Galante, specially dedicated to Milan’s Cathedral. Continuing this great tradition, in 2009 La Scala Chamber Orchestra was excited and honored to present an original composition of the famous composer and cellist Giovanni Sollima.
La Scala Chamber Orchestra’s repertoire includes the most important compositions for chamber orchestras from the 18th century to the present day, with particular attention paid to little-played works by 19th century Italian composers. Many of these pieces are unpublished and are characterized by highly virtuosic solo parts which are well suited to display the extraordinary talents of La Scala Chamber Orchestra’s soloists, all principles in the Filarmonica della Scala and well known concert artists on the international scene.
The musicians of La Scala Chamber Orchestra have consistently worked with the greatest conductors of the world who routinely make guest appearances at Teatro alla Scala, such as Riccardo Muti, Carlo Maria Giulini, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Daniel Barenboim.
These coveted experiences have influenced their sound, bringing out musical characteristics of timbre and phrasing which are certainly unique in the Italian and international panorama of chamber groups.