Gerard Floriano |
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Gerard Floriano, conductor Emerging American Conductor Gerard Floriano is equally accomplished in both the operatic and orchestral arenas. As Artistic Director of Rochester Opera Factory, he led the rise of this ambitious company, conducting full-scale critically acclaimed performances of Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana", Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci", "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss, and Puccini's "Suor Angelica". The 2005/06 season has been an exciting one for Mr. Floriano who, after having been named Co-Artistic Director of Mercury Opera Rochester, led Mascagni's "L'Amico Fritz" and Donizetti's "Elixir of Love". Writing about "L'Amico Fritz", Democrat & Chronicle music critic John Pitcher wrote "...Mr. Floriano proved to be nothing les than a virtuoso conductor…(he) led his fine orchestra with color, precision and a welcome degree of sweep..." ushering in a “New age of Good Opera” in Western New York. In December of 2005, Mr. Floriano led the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in a series of five holiday concerts throughout the Rochester region, and in March 2006, he made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut with the Greater Buffalo Youth Orhcestra. A regular guest conductor in Europe, Mr. Floriano has led performances in Krakow, Warsaw, Prague, Barcelona, Florence and Leipzig. Most recently, he conducted the Orchestra di Vicenza and opera chorus and soloists of the Venice Opera in a spectacular performance of Mozart's Requiem. Mr. Floriano is acclaimed as an innovative programmer and dedicated educational conductor. Under his leadership, the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra has become a premiere training orchestra for the most talented young musicians in western NY. Dr. Floriano serves as the Director of Choral Activities at the State University of New York at Geneseo and Resident Conductor at the Brevard Summer Music Festival. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music with Doctor of Musical Arts, and Master of Music degrees in conducting. |