Francisco Siciliani — Reviving Italian Opera and Launching Celebrities

The conductor laureate and former music director of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Alessandro “Maestro” Siciliani is credited with reviving the struggling Ohio ensemble and taking it to greater heights. Early in his career, he moved from Italy to the United States. Alessandro Siciliani wanted to avoid the impression that any job he obtained was because of his father, the late Italian impresario Francesco Siciliani.

A musical child genius, Francesco Siciliani earned his composition diploma at the Florence Conservatory. He also obtained university degrees in political science and law. While a successful composer in the 1930s, he is most famous for assisting the revival of Italy’s music scene in the aftermath of WWII. He shepherded the premier opera houses in Italy.

In succession, he was the artistic director of San Carlos in Naples, Teatro Com and the Maggio Musicale in Florence, and the La Scala in Milan. Siciliani collaborated with the most celebrated conductors of the time, such as von Karajan, Furtwangler, and De Sabata. He is also noted for advancing the fledgling careers of notable musical celebrities, including Mario Del Monaco and Maria Callas.