London-born, Italian-based conductor Damian Iorio was raised in a distinguished family of Italian and English musicians. After studies in the UK and USA he started his musical career as a violinist and, whilst a member of the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, studied conducting in St Petersburg.

Damian has worked with an impressive list of orchestras and opera companies including London Philharmonic, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Detroit Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Opéra National de Paris, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, St Petersburg Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Oper Bonn, Orchestre National de Belgique and Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne.

Damian Iorio has recently returned to the London Philharmonic, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and National Orchestra of Belgium alongside making debuts with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and BBC National Orchestra of Wales (“Quite simply the best rendition of the music I have ever encountered” – Seen and Heard International: Paul Corfield Godfrey, 28th April 2016). He made his debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra in October ’16.

Damian Iorio’s opera work has seen him conduct Verdi’s “Macbeth” at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride” at Opéra National de Paris where he returns in 2018 for “Boris Godunov”. Recent successful debuts with Helikon Opera in Moscow (“Carmen”) and Norrlands Opera in Sweden (“Eugene Onegin”) have led to a strong relationship with both companies. He made his US debut with Central City Opera in Colorado in Britten’s “The Rape of Lucretia” which was admired by the international press. He has appeared at Bonn Opera for a production of Puccini’s “Turandot”, conducted Norwegian Opera several times and also many Italian opera houses including Teatro Regio di Torino. In St Petersburg he conducted Britten’s “The Turn of the Screw” and, in Moscow, the Russian premiere of Michael Nyman’s “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat” which was nominated for Best Opera Production at the Golden Mask Festival.

His recent recording of Ghedini and Casella on Naxos was highly acclaimed by The Guardian (“fine live performances scrupulously conducted by Damian Iorio”) and was awarded the prestigious “Choc” by Le Monde de la Musique. His interest in the creation of new music has led him to conduct several premieres, collaborating closely with composers such as Tan Dun, Huw Watkins, Silvia Colasanti and Michael Nyman.

Damian Iorio was Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Murmansk where he was the catalyst of its success and growth in both opera and concert. He enjoys working with young musicians and is currently Music Director of the National Youth String Orchestra of Great Britain. In 2014 he became Music Director of the Milton Keynes City Orchestra which is building a strong reputation as a core part of the cultural life in the region and city.

In 2006 he received the Knight of the Order of Sant’Agata from the Republic of San Marino in recognition for his services to music.

Last updated December 2016

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