Filarmonica della Scala is an independent orchestra founded by Claudio Abbado together with the musicians of La Scala Opera House in 1982 with the primary aim of developing a symphonic repertoire in order to add a further dimension to La Scala’s great operatic tradition. The Orchestra has collaborated with some of the greatest conductors of the time: Carlo Maria Giulini, Georges Prêtre, Lorin Maazel, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Zubin Metha, Leonard Bernstein and many others. Riccardo Muti has been the Principal Conductor from 1987 to 2005. Riccardo Chailly was named Principal Conductor in 2015.
Filarmonica performed more than 800 concerts on tour in the last 30 years. Important milestones have included the Orchestra’s debut in the United States with Riccardo Chailly and in China with Myung-Whun Chung.
A central concern of the FdS is to touch the hearts of people. This obviously includes its music but also extends beyond that. From 2011 Filarmonica della Scala propose an educational project called SoundMusic! and also supports Milan’s main scientific institutions and voluntary bodies through special concerts and open rehearsals belonging to the series Prove Aperte. Furthermore, from 2013 Filarmonica della Scala hosts the Concerto per Milano in Piazza Duomo in Milan. Every June, an open-air concert brings the orchestra to the heart of the city for a free of charge concert. With an audience of around 50.000 people, this special concert allows us to share a night with the city, with a high level performance, also broadcasted live by national and international television.
The orchestra has made numerous recordings for music labels such Emi, Decca, Sony. In 2020 Decca released Cherubini Discoveries and Respighi, both part of the acclaimed series celebrating the great Italian composers. Filarmonica has a particular interest in contemporary music and every season features a new commission to an important composer of our time.
Filarmonica della Scala’s activity is supported by the Main Partner UniCredit.
