ORCHESTRA BIO
Now in its seventh season, The Metro Chamber Orchestra has carved a niche as one of New York City's finest music ensembles performing today.
Founded by its Artistic Director Philip Nuzzo in 2002, the Metro Chamber Orchestra is comprised of some of New York City's finest freelance musicians, many of whom play with the New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and for major Broadway productions. Over the past seven year the orchestra has performed over fifty concerts in the tri-state area as well as in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Metro Chamber Orchestra's programming consists of a unique blend of both standard repertoire and new works. Perhaps the single most identifiable mark of the orchestra's programming is its commissions of both new compositions and reductions of major orchestral works for chamber orchestra. MCO commissioned and performed reductions of music from Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier" and "Salome". Last season the orchestra performed a highly acclaimed rendition of the Debussy "L' Enfant Prodigue" in an reduction by Philip Hagemann. Commissions include a Clarinet Concerto by Sean Hickey and New York premieres include music by Jennifer Higdon and Douglas Kostner. In 2004 the MCO premiered selections from the Jonathan Dove reduction of Wagner's "Ring", featuring Metropolitan Opera soprano Audrey Stottler.
Maestro Philip Nuzzo
Maestro Philip Nuzzo’s highly diverse and successful performing career has brought him debuts throughout the Far East, Europe, and the United States. In recent seasons, he has been a principal guest conductor of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra in Egypt, Mo. Nuzzo has held the post of Artistic Director of the Mississippi Opera. Guest conducting appearances include work at the Music at Penn’s Woods Festival, the highly acclaimed St. Olaf Orchestra and the Niagara Symphony among others. He has appeared with major symphonies in Vienna, Austria and Kharkov, Ukraine. In the field of opera, Philip Nuzzo has appeared with the Tampa Bay Opera, Cairo Opera among others. He has conducted Aida with Metropolitan Opera soprano Leona Mitchell in Hong Kong and has premiered the Jonathan Dove reduction of Wagner’s Ring in an exciting concert with the internationally renowned soprano Audrey Stottler. His Metro Chamber Orchestra has commissioned re-orchestrations excerpts of Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier” and “Salome”.
Now in his seventh season as artistic director of the Metro Chamber Orchestra he has led the orchestra in both the standard repertoire and many new works including several commissions. This season he leads the MCO in the New York premiere of Philip Hagemann’s “Ruth” as well as commissioned works by Mordelli and Miller. He will also lead the Metro Chamber Orchestra in a live film score, Richard Einhorn’s “Voices of Light” in January 2010.