Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi

The Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi (Symphony Orchestra of Milan Giuseppe Verdi) is an Italian orchestra based in Milan. The orchestra refers to itself as La Verdi colloquially. The orchestra's primary residence is the Auditorium di Milano Fondazione Cariplo. History : Vladimir Delman founded the orchestra in 1993 as an independent, self-governing organisation. In 1998, a choir affiliated with the orchestra was established, the Coro Sinfonico Giuseppe Verdi di Milano. In 2002, the orchestra was resident at the Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi, and played in France, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland in its first European tour. In 2004, the orchestra became the resident orchestra at the Festival delle Nazioni of Città di Castello. The orchestra has toured throughout Italy, such as in the autumn of 2006. On 24 April 2008, the orchestra also performed for Pope Benedict XVI and President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano for the third anniversary of Benedict XVI's Pontificate. In 2008 the Orchestra also took part on Opera Gala "World Stars" performing operas’ arias by Verdi and Puccini. Conductors : The orchestra's first music director was Riccardo Chailly, from 1999 to 2005. Chailly now has the title of Conductor Laureate. Rudolf Barshai was named conductor laureate in 2006. Principal guest conductors have included Helmuth Rilling and Wayne Marshall. Claus Peter Flor became principal guest conductor in 2003. In March 2009, the orchestra announced the appointment of Xian Zhang as its next music director, the first woman to be named music director of an Italian symphony orchestra. She held the post until 2016, and now has the title of Direttore Emerita (conductor emeritus) with the orchestra. In June 2017, the orchestra announced the appointment of Flor as its next music director, effective with the 2017-2018 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.