Rodolfo Saglimbeni

Artistic Director
Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas

Principal Guest Conductor
Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia

Since returning to his native Venezuela 1987, Rodolfo Saglimbeni has become one of its leading conductors. For six years he was Associate Conductor of the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra, a position he resigned in order to develop the foundation and development of the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Symphony Orchestra. He was Associate Conductor of the Caracas Sinfonietta and frequent guest conductor of symphony orchestras throughout the country including the Teresa Carreño Opera.

Born in 1962, he studied music in Venezuela and at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Colin Metters, George Hurst and John Carewe, and was awarded his Degree with Honours, the Conducting Diploma (Postgrad) and significant prizes. He studied with Franco Ferrara, at the Santa Cecilia Academy in Rome in 1981.

In 1985, was the first runner up in the International Conducting Competition in Besançon (France), being the youngest conductor to participate in that event.

He has guest conducted the Besançon Orchestra (France), the Radio/Television Orchestra of Luxembourg, Orchestras and Ensembles of the Royal Academy of Music, the Haydn Orchestra in London, the Philharmonia Chorus, and was also conductor of symphony orchestras in the UK, Portugal, Rumania, Spain, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador, USA, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.

His wide experience as professor of conducting and orchestral trainer, has led him to promote important events in Chile, Spain and Portugal. Since 1990 he has been working as professor of conducting at the Canford Summer School of Music in the United Kingdom and since 1993 is the co-director of this international center for orchestral conducting studies.

Saglimbeni extensive repertoire includes symphonic music, opera and ballet. He has premiered in Venezuela and South America important works by Bernstein, Weill, Gershwin, Strawinsky, and Messiaen’s “Turangalila Symphony”. He has conducted at all music festivals in Venezuela and toured Spain in 1992 with the “Simon Bolívar Symphony Orchestra”. His recordings on CD, Radio and Television range from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to works by Venezuelan composers and original scores for films and the stage including the successful compact discs “Danzon” y “Gurrufío” with the “Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho” Symphony Orchestra and the serie “Musica para una Ciudad” that rescues the musical icons of the city of Caracas with the Caracas Municipal Symphony Orchestra. Also with them, are recent recordings with Gabriela Montero and the “Sonero del Mundo” Oscar D´León. His concerts are regularly broadcasted on national radio and television and the throughout South American network.

In 1989 he was awarded the prize “Best Conductor of the Year” and the National Order “José Felix Ribas” given by the Venezuelan government. In 1993 he was named Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) and for eight year he was president of the National Confederation of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestras.

En 1997 he was selected for a Fellowship of the Americas” sponsored by the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. He holds the position of professor of conducting at the University Institute for Musical Studies (IUDEM).

In 1999 he was winner of the “Conductor of the Americas” Prize in Santiago de Chile and in June of that same year was awarded National Artist Prize in Venezuela. He was awarded the Order “Guaraira Repano” in its 1st Class in the 25th Anniversary of the Caracas Municipal Symphony Orchestra.

Towards the end of 1999, he was named Musical Director of the Teresa Carreño Theatre in Caracas. He was elected Artistic Director of the Caracas Municipal Symphony Orchestra in 2003, and Orchestra which whom has developed and important artistic and musical project extensively connected with the communities.