Steven Mercurio

Steven Mercurio (born 1956, Bardonia, New York) is an American conductor and composer.

Early life and education

Mercurio was raised in New York and is of Italian descent. For most of his adolescence, he gravitated towards rock and jazz music and played guitar in various rock bands with his friends during his high school years.[1] He studied composition and graduated from Boston University where his professors included David Del Tredici.[2][3] He earned his master's degree at Juilliard School.[1]

Career

Early in his career, Mercurio served as an associate or assistant conductor with the Brooklyn Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera.[1] In 1991, he was appointed principal conductor of the Opera Company of Philadelphia.[1] He then served as music director of the Spoleto Festival for five years, where his work included conducting the United States premiere of Zemlinsky's Der Zwerg.[4] In March 2019, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Mercurio as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2019-2020 season.[5]

Mercurio has conducted a number of television productions, including:

  • “Christmas in Vienna” series with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra
  • “American Dream – Andrea Bocelli's Statue of Liberty Concert”
  • The 20th Anniversary Richard Tucker Opera Gala
  • RAI (Italian) television broadcasts of 'Christmas from Assisi' (2009, 2010, 2011)

Mercurio has recorded commercially for such labels as Sony Classical and Decca.[6][7] He has been a regular collaborator with Andrea Bocelli.[8][9][10]

Recordings (selected list)
  • "Concerto de Toronto", John Williams (Guitar), London Sinfonietta
  • "Voices of Light", Anonymous 4, Netherlands Radio Choir, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic (Sony, 1995)
  • "corea.concerto", London Philharmonic Orchestra (Sony, 1999)
  • "Fanfare for the Volunteer", Mark O’Connor (Violin), London Philharmonic (Sony, 1999)
  • "Listen to the Storyteller", Orchestra Of St. Luke's (Sony, 1999)
  • "Soprano Songs and Arias", Ana Maria Martinez (Soprano), Prague Philharmonia (Naxos, 2000)
  • "Tenor Arias", Marcello Giordani (Tenor), Orchestra and Chorus of the Bellini Theatre Catania (Naxos, 2004)
  • "Many Voices", Prague Philharmonia (Sony, 2005)
  • "Amore", Joseph Calleja (Tenor), BBC Concert Orchestra (Decca, 2013)

Compositions

For orchestra

  • For Lost Loved Ones (1991)
  • Mercurial Overture' (1999)

For voice and Orchestra

  • 'A White Rose' (text by John Boyle O'Reilly, for soprano and orchestra; 1988)
  • Daydream for a Sentimental Baritone (for baritone and orchestra; 1988)
  • 'Desiderio' (text by Andrea Bocelli, for tenor and orchestra; 1998)
  • 'Paternita' (text by Andrea Bocelli, for tenor and orchestra; 1998)
  • 'Song in Chaos' (text by Eugene O'Neill, for soprano and orchestra; 1988)
  • Serenade for Tenor and Orchestra (text by William Hoffman; 1990) 1982[2]
  • A Grateful Tail - A Symphony in Four Movements for Orchestra, Vocalist and Gospel Choir (2013)

Chamber music

  • Paranomasia (for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano; 2015)

References
  1. "MUSIC : Boy Played, Then Man Composed Himself". Los Angeles Times. September 10, 1992.
  2. Anne Midgette (October 1, 2006). "Did Someone Order Nostalgia? Cue the Violins and Voices". The New York Times. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  3. "The New Romance With Tonality". The New York Times Magazine. May 29, 1983.
  4. Alex Ross (1993-06-09). "Critic's Notebook; Adventures in Spoletoland: Conservative but Not Bloodless". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  5. "Steven Mercurio se stává šefdirigentem ČNSO" (Press release). Czech National Symphony Orchestra. March 19, 2019. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  6. Andrew Clements (July 15, 2004). "Verdi: Il Trovatore: Bocelli/ Villaroel/ Zaremba/ Guelfi/ Colombara/ Teatro Massimo Bellini Catania Chorus & Orchestra/ Mercurio". The Guardian. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  7. Tim Ashley (April 13, 2007). "Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana; Bocelli/ Marrocu/ Antonucci/ Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Massimo Bellini Catania/ Mercurio". The Guardian. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  8. Anthony Tommasini (December 1, 2009). "A Blind Pop Tenor Takes On the Operatic Stage". The New York Times. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  9. Lawrence A. Johnson (November 5, 2000). "Conductor Cultivates Pop Appeal". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  10. Vivien Schweitzer (December 10, 2007). "Loving Counterpoint: Heartfelt Arias and Hearty Applause". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
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