Paolo Ponziano Ciardi
Paolo Ponziano Ciardi was born in Genova and began his conducting career at an early age. Alongside his classical and humanistic preparation, he also studied pianoforte, composition, organ, orchestral conducting and choral conducting. Contemporaneously he frequented courses at the Mozarteum in Salzburg under Milan Horvat and at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena under Franco Ferrara. In 1981 he was the only Italian to win a scholarship offered by the Austrian Government and he perfected his studies at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna with Otmar Suitner for Orchestral Conducting, Karl Etti for Opera Conducting and Gunther Theuring for Choral Conducting. He won the edition of the "European Personality Award" for his work.
As a conductor Ciardi is a regular guest to Symphonic and Choral Associations, Orchestras and important international Concert Societies. Amongst these are: the RAI Orchestra in Turin, Teatro Verdi in Trieste, the Opera Society "G.P. da Palestrina" in Cagliari, Teatro Rossini in Pesaro, the Orchestra "A. Scarlatti" of Neaples, the Milano Classica Orchestra, the Opera Theatre “V. Bellini” of Catania, the Opera Theatre of Budapest, the Opera Theatre of Spalato (Croatia), the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, the Philarmonia of Minsk, the Budapest Chamber Orchestra, the National Orchestra of Malta, the Bacau Philarmonic Orchestra, the Budapest Concert Orchestra, he has collaborated with soloists and singers such as Simon Estes, Mariella Devia, Daniela Mazzucato, Fiorenza Cedolins, Cecilia Gasdia, Pietro Ballo, Raina Kabaivanska, Francesca Patanè, Istvan Ruha, Ilya Grubert, Felix Ayo, Massimo Quarta, Rolando Panerai, Katia Ricciarelli and Simone Alaimo, winning the enthusiasm of the public and excellent press notices everywhere.
Particularily significant were his performances in the Tchaikowsky Hall in Moscow, the Abravanell Hall in Salt Lake City, the Bonn University, the Liszt Academy in Budapest, the "Salle des Penitents Blancs" at Avignon, the Internationale Salzburger Orgelkonzerte of Salzburg, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Teatro Comunale di Cagliari, Rossini Opera Festival, Opera Theatre of Ankara (Turkey), the Festival Internacional Cervantino of Guanajuato (Mexico), the Auditorium of Mexico City, the Roman Theatre at Cartagine, the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Cecilia Meireles Hall in Rio de Janeiro, the Fujiarah Performing Arts Hall (UAE).
Ciardi held the professorship for Orchestral Training at the Conservatorio “J. Tomadini" in Udine, at the Conservatorio “Nicola Sala" in Benevento and in the last 16 years at the Conservatorio "Luigi Cherubini" in Florence. He was the Musical Director of Orchestra Rossini di Pesaro, and Artistic and Musical Director of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Pesaro, of the Istituzione Sinfonica Italia Classica and of the Musica Ischia Festival.
He was Administrative Adviser to the "Teatro Regio" in Turin from 1992 until 1994, a member of the Central Board of Music in 1996 and from 1997 until 2007 he was a member of the National Committee dealing with problems in Performing Arts, for the Performing Arts Sector ofthe Prime Minister's Cabinet. In June 1998 Ciardi was decorated with the honorary award of "Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic".
He has recorded for Radiotelevisione Italiana 1, Radiotelevisione Italiana 3, the Vatican Radio, the Magiara Radio & Television, the Bielorussia Radio & Television, the Mexican Radio & Television, the Fox Television U.S.A., and various Cd and Dvd for the companies ABC, Agorà, Phoenix Classics, Pantheon.