Conductor Jack Price Founding Partner / Managing Director Marc Parella Partner / Director of Operations Brenna Sluiter Marketing Operations Manager Karrah Cambry Opera and Special Projects Manager Mailing Address: 520 Geary Street Suite 605 San Francisco CA 94102 Telephone: Toll-Free 1-866-PRI-RUBI (774-7824) 310-254-7149 / Los Angeles 415-504-3654 / San Francisco Skype: pricerubent marcparella Email: jp@pricerubin.com mp@pricerubin.com Website: http://www.pricerubin.com Yahoo!Messenger pricerubin Contents: Biography Performance History & Repertoire Reviews Complete artist information including video, audio and interviews are available at www.pricerubin.com
Biography Italian maestro Andrea Licata has a distinguished career on the podium as both operatic and symphonic conductor. He has recorded two albums with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in England (Bizet, Prokofiev and Saint-Saens; opera preludes and overtures). In his native Sicily, he has led performances of Tosca, Don Carlo, Rigoletto, La Gioconda, Don Pasquale and the Saint of Bleecker Street (both directed by Gian Carlo Menotti), the Verdi Requiem, and Bruckner and Sibelius orchestral programs at the Teatro Bellini in Catania, Simone Boccanegra, Un Ballo In Maschera, Turandot and Norma at the Teatro Vittore Emanuele in Messina, and Andrea Chenier at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo. Other appearances in Italy include the Festival Dei Due Mondi in Spoleto and the major opera houses of Rome. In the USA, he conducted Aida for the New Orleans Opera, and was a frequent guest conductor for the Baltimore Opera, where he led productions of Aida, La Boheme, La Fanciulla del West, Madama Butterfly, Tosca, Turandot, Maria Stuarda, Rigoletto, and Il Trovatore. He has been invited many times to Australia, to the Sydney Opera for Il Trittico, Madama Butterfly, Rigoletto, and Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci, and to the Melbourne Opera for Nabucco and Un Ballo in Maschera. Born in Palermo, he began his violin studies there at the "Vincenzo Bellini" Conservatory and concluded them at the "Santa Cecilia" Conservatory in Rome, where he graduated under the guidance of Arrigo Pelliccia. Concurrently, he began studying composition. He studied conducting at the Academy of Pescara, graduating in the class of Mario Gusella. Later he attended several master classes given by the famed conducting teacher Franco Ferrara. After several concerts with the Italian orchestras Sinfonica Siciliana, Tuscany Region, and Bari Symphony, he made his operatic debut in January 1987 at the Teatro Comunale in Florence conducting "Dr. Miracle" by Bizet. Subsequent engagements have included many opera and symphonic orchestras in Italy and abroad, including the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino,
Teatro Regio Parma, Teatro Massimo Palermo, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. In 1989 Hans Werner Henze invited Andrea Licata to inaugurate the Cantiere Internazionale in Montepulciano. From 1991 to 1994 he was the Musical Director of Teatro Vincenzo Bellini of Catania, where he conducted concerts and operas such as Rigoletto, Aida, Bianca e Fernando, The Saint of Bleeker Street (Menotti) and La Gioconda while appearing frequently as a guest with the Rome Opera. In 1996 he began an association with the Baltimore Opera conducting Tosca, Turandot, Aida, Madame Butterfly, Rigoletto, Il trovatore, Cavalleria rusticana and I pagliacci, followed by Norma, La fanciulla del West, La boheme and Tosca. In 1998 he conducted Norma in Messina, where he has also conducted Un ballo in maschera, Simon Boccanegra, Lucia di Lammermoor, Turandot, Ernani and Alahor en Granada by Donizetti (Italian premiere). In 2003/4 he made his Australian debut conducting a new production of Norma for Opera Australia with great success and was re-invited for Nabucco, La boheme, Madame Butterfly, Rigoletto, Il trittico, Un Ballo in Maschera, Cavalleria Rusticana, I Pagliacci (2008-09) and Aida (2012). In the 2009/10 season Andrea Licata made his debut with the Welsh National Opera conducting La traviata (2009) and was re-engaged for Il trovatore the following season. In 2009/2010, he conducted Tosca at the Sydney Opera house. He also returned to the Teatro Maestranza, Seville for La traviata in 2010. In 2010/11 he made his Swedish debut conducting Norma for the Royal Opera, Stockholm and gave performances of Tosca in Palermo in concerts with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana. In 2011/12 he conducted Rossini s La Cenerentola in Beijing. In 2012/13, Andrea Licata worked extensively with Opera Australia, conducting Operas in Sydney and Melbourne including Aida, The Barber of Seville, Turandot and La Forza del Destino, with a La boheme in Sydney in 2014.
Performance History & Repertoire Andrea Licata, conductor 1988 July Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, symphony concert 1989 July Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, contemporary opera "Sarah" of the Belgian composer Paul Uy, about the life of Marilyn Monroe 1989 August inaugurated the Montepulciano Festival, at the invitation of Hans Werner Henze, with the opera "Il Matrimonio Segreto" by Cimarosa 1990 August Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania "Rigoletto" at the Greek Theatre in Syracuse 1990 November at the Teatro di Cagliari "La Serva Padrona" and "Suor Angelica" 1991 January appointed chief Music Director at the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, and continued to serve until 1994 1991 May Orchestra of the Teatro Bellini of Catania, symphony concert (music by Sibelius) 1991 June Teatro Bellini in Catania "Aida" with repetitions in the outdoor season at the Greek Theatre Syracuse 1991 October Orchestra of the Teatro di Catania, symphonic concert music by Strauss 1991 November Teatro Bellini in Catania, "Bianca e Fernando" for the Festival Bellini (engraving record with New Age) 1992 January Teatro Bellini in Catania "The Saint of Bleecker Street" Giancarlo Menotti (directed by the composer) 1992 February Teatro Bellini in Catania "La Gioconda" 1992 March Teatro dell'opera di Roma "La Gioconda" 1992 August Teatro dell'opera di Roma "Aida" at the Baths of Caracalla 1992 September Teatro Bellini in Catania Bellini Festival for the world premiere opera "Adelson e Salvini" (engraving record with New Era) 1993 February Orchestra of the Teatro Bellini (symphony concert, music of Bruckner) 1993 March Teatro Bellini in Catania "Don Pasquale" directed by Giancarlo Menotti 1993 May Teatro dell'opera di Roma "Il Trovatore" 1993 August Teatro dell'opera di Roma "Aida" at the Baths of Caracalla and Orchestra
1993 September chorus of the Teatro Bellini in Catania Giuseppe Verdi's Messa da Requiem for Bellini Festival 1993 November, Teatro Bellini in Catania "Don Carlo" 1994 March, Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, symphony concert 1994 June, Teatro Bellini in Catania "Jaquerie "by G. Marinuzzi (engraving record with New Era) 1994 September, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London, two recordings (with music by Bizet, Prokofiev and Saint-Saens and preludes, interludes of Italian operas and symphonies) 1995 January, Teatro Bellini of Catania "Un Ballo in Maschera" with performances at the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele of Messina Sicilian Symphony Orchestra, symphony concert (music by R. Strauss) 1995 February, The State Opera Ljubljana's "Turandot" 1995 June, Teatro Bellini in Catania "Tosca" 1996 April Opera House in Baltimore, U.S. debut with the opera "Tosca" 1996 June, was appointed to the Opera House in Baltimore as European Artistic Coordinator 1996 November Teatro Vittorio Emanuele of Messina with the opera "Simon Boccanegra" 1997 in April Orchestra of the Teatro Bellini in Catania (symphonic concert with music by Tchaikovsky and mass for choir and orchestra by Perosi) 1997 May Teatro Vittorio Emanuele of Messina "Norma" 1998 July Trapanes and "Aida" 1998 October Opera House in Baltimore "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci" 1998 November Baltimore Opera "Norma" 1999 February Teatro La Maestranza in Seville "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci" 1999 March New Orleans Opera "Aida" 1999 June Teatro Massimo Palermo "Alahor in Grenade" by G. Donizetti 1999 November Teatro Vittorio Emanuele of Messina "Lucia di Lammermoor" 2000 May Baltimore Opera "La Boheme" 2000 Avanches July Festival (Switzerland) "Aida" 2000 August Puccini Festival Torre del Lago "La Boheme" 2000 October Baltimore Opera "Aida" 2001 March Theatre in Las Palmas (Spain) "Nabucco" 2001 June Baltimore Opera "Turandot" 2001 July Torre del Lago "Tosca"
2001 September Santander Opera "Il Trovatore" 2001 November Baltimore Opera "Tosca" 2002 February Las Palmas Opera "Turandot" 2002 April Teatro Vittorio Emanuele of Messina "Turandot" 2002 May Teatro dell'opera Lodz (Poland) "Cavalleria Rusticana" in concert form 2002 November Baltimore Opera "Rigoletto" 2003 February Theatre of Las Palmas "Tosca" 2003 June Baltimore Opera "Madama Butterfly" 2003 June Teatro dell 'Opera Baltimore's "Il Trovatore" 2003 October Opera Baltimore "Il Trovatore" 2004 March-April Opera of Melbourne (Australia) "Norma" 2004 September-October Opera House in Baltimore (USA) "La Fanciulla del West" 2004 November Verdi's Requiem Mass for the "Week of Sacred Music in Monreale" with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana and with the chorus "Schola Cantorum St. Gregory the Great" 2005 February-March Teatro Massimo in Palermo "Andrea Chenier" 2005 April-May Opera of Melbourne (Australia) "Nabucco" 2005 June Opera of Melbourne (Australia) "Nabucco" 2005 June Melbourne Symphony "Symphony Concert" 2005 July & August Sydney Opera House (Australia) "La Boheme" 2005 October Teatro Regio (Parma), "La Traviata" 2005 November Teatro Piccinni (Bari), "A Masked Ball" 2006 January & December 2005 Opera House (Sydney, Australia) "Madame Butterfly" 2006 April, Teatro dell'opera Baltimore (USA) "La Boheme" 2006 September, Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia) "Rigoletto" 2007 April Teatro Vittorio Emanuele of Messina "Ernani" 2007 May Theatre Baltimore Opera House "Tosca" 2007 June-July, New Zealand Opera- Wellington and Auckland "Lucia di Lammermoor" 2007 August-September Sydney Opera House "Triptych" by Puccini 2007 October-November Baltimore Opera House "Mary Stuart" 2008 February-March Opera Australia-Sydney "Un Ballo in Maschera" 2008 April Opera Australia, Melbourne "Un Ballo in Maschera" 2008 August Opera House Leeds (England) "Tosca"
2008 September-October Opera House in Baltimore (USA) "Aida" 2009 January Sydney Opera House "Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci" 2009 Welsh National Opera (debut) La Traviata 2009/2010 Sydney Opera House Tosca 2010 Welsh National Opera Il Trovatore 2010 Teatro Maestranza, Seville La Traviata 2010/11 Royal Opera, Stockholm (Swedish debut) Norma 2010/11 performances of Tosca in concerts with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, Palermo 2011/12 Beijing, Rossini La Cenerentola 2012 Sydney Opera House Aida 2012/13 Opera Australia, conducting operas in Sydney and Melbourne including Aida, The Barber of Seville, Turandot and La Forza del Destino 2014 Sydney Opera, La Boheme
Reviews Il Trovatore: Welsh National Opera (February / March 2011)..conductor, Andrea Licata, whose natural feel for Verdian line was a great virtue with the orchestra fully responsive to his sweep and beat. Seen & Heard...the tale, if not convincingly enacted, is told with feeling. It s a mood bolstered by some full-throated choruses and playing of tension and astringency by the orchestra under Italian maestro Andrea Licata. South Wales Argus The real pleasure lies in the glory of Verdi's rich and lyrical score conducted by Andrea Licata. Western Mail Verdi s Il Trovatore has always been an opera for singers. This production is no exception, with glorious singing from a fine ensemble backed by the majestic chorus and a punchy orchestra... Fortunately, the orchestra under the baton of a lively Andrea Licata, the spellbinding chorus and the principals swept away the nonsense bringing the show to life. walesonline.co.uk...andrea Licata is plainly in his element... theartsdesk.com Norma: Royal Swedish Opera (November 2010 - February 2011) The Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra conducted by the Italian maestro Andrea Licata, deserves nothing but praise. Kulturbloggen
Debut with Welsh National Opera: La traviata(september 2009) The best work comes from the excellent orchestra and chorus under Andrea Licata s experienced, idiomatic baton. Sunday Times The conductor Andrea Licata led a secure account, with expert contributions from the WNO orchestra and chorus. The Observer But Verdi is in good hands here. Andrea Licata conducted a neat, supportive and light-textured reading of the score. Daily Telegraph Conductor Andrea Licata was a true Verdian who negotiated his way with ease around every subtle aspect of this glorious score. Needless to say their WNO Orchestra, especially the brass, woodwind and magnificent chorus, excelled. It was, as they say, one of those nights. There are four more performances and you miss them at your peril. South Wales Echo..the suave WNO orchestra and the vibrant chorus. The Times But for me the real stars of the show were the wonderful playing of Verdi s rich score by the Orchestra of the WNO, conducted with considerable élan by Andrea Licata in his WNO debut. The chorus were equally brilliant, singing with matchless unison and clearly relishing the wonderful opportunities put their way by Verdi s sumptuous score. Opera Britannia Andrea Licata conducted with assurance, vitality and intelligent supportiveness a very satisfying evening in the theatre. Seen and Heard
As always it is the company s two vital operatic elements that totally engage our senses and imagination. The orchestra, under the skilful and subtle control of Andrea Licata, gave us quiet seductive beauty in the opening moments, struck up like a lively brass band at one point, handled the melodrama in the music superbly and provided a bedrock under the tough demands for the soloists. The magnificent WNO chorus was once again in fine voice and in this production they did carry off the air of sophisticated debauchery that this Parisienne society indulges in extremely convincingly. Theatre in Wales Italian conductor Andrea Licata, in another debut, is particularly helpful when the ever-dependable WNO orchestra is both affirming and giving the lie to what characters are doing and thinking on stage. South Wales Argus Aida: Baltimore Opera (October 2008)...conductor Andrea Licata's red-blooded treatment of the score suits these singers well...licata draws passion from his performers that serves the drama. Washington Post Conductor Andrea Licata, as usual, provided a textbook case of authentic Italian opera conducting - passionate, yet sensible; propulsive, yet always open to possibilities for rubato. The orchestra turned in some exciting work. Baltimore Sun