Claudio Scimone (23 December 1934 – 6 September 2018) was an Italian conductor celebrated for his leadership of chamber orchestra repertory and for reviving neglected works of the Italian Baroque and Classical periods. Born in Padua and long active in Italy, he combined scholarly curiosity with a lively, communicative style that brought lesser-known scores to modern audiences. He is widely associated with small-scale orchestral forces and a bright, articulate string sound that became a hallmark of his ensembles. Conductor

Career and I Solisti Veneti

Scimone founded the chamber ensemble I Solisti Veneti in the late 1950s and led it for decades as its principal conductor. Under his direction the group became internationally known for performances of Vivaldi, Corelli and other Italian masters, as well as for precise, energetic interpretations of Classical-era repertoire. The ensemble made numerous recordings and toured widely, helping to reintroduce historic Italian repertory to concert halls and record buyers beyond Italy.

Repertoire, premieres and advocacy

Scimone was a tireless advocate for bringing forgotten or neglected works back into the concert repertory. He prepared and conducted modern premieres of several large-scale works, drawing attention to composers sometimes overshadowed by later figures. Notable modern premieres associated with him include:

  • Mosè in Egitto (Moses in Egypt) by Gioachino Rossini
  • Edipo a Colono (Oedipus at Colonus) by Rossini
  • Il giudizio universale (The Last Judgement) by Antonio Salieri

These projects often combined scholarly preparation with modern staging or concert performances that made the works accessible to contemporary listeners.

Recordings, posts and legacy

Scimone left a substantial discography with I Solisti Veneti and other orchestras, recording chamber concertos, sacred music and opera excerpts. His efforts contributed significantly to the mid- to late-20th-century revival of Italian Baroque music and helped establish performance practices for small orchestral forces. At the time of his death he held the title of honorary conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon, Portugal, a position recognizing his international influence.

Claudio Scimone died on 6 September 2018 in Rome at the age of 83. He is remembered for a career that combined performance, recording and musical research, and for raising the profile of Italian instrumental and vocal repertoire worldwide.