One of today’s most sought-after conductors, Sir Antonio Pappano is renowned for his charismatic leadership and inspiring performances across both symphonic and operatic repertoires. He is Chief Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

His other positions are Conductor Laureate of the Royal Opera and Ballet Covent Garden in London, and Music Director Emeritus of the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, having held the position of Music Director at both institutions from 2002–2024 and 2005–2023 respectively. Previously he served as Music Director of Oslo’s Den Norske Opera, of the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, and (as Principal Guest Conductor) of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Pappano is in demand as an opera conductor at the highest international level, including with the Metropolitan Opera New York, the State Operas of Vienna and Berlin, the Bayreuth and Salzburg Festivals, and the Teatro alla Scala, and has appeared as a guest conductor with many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, as well as the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago and Boston Symphonies, the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras. He maintains a particularly strong relationship with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

Highlights of the 2025/26 season and beyond include return visits to the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic, and many more guest appearances. He continues the acclaimed new Ring Cycle at the Royal Opera House London with a new production of Siegfried. In his second season as Chief Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, Pappano takes the orchestra on wide-ranging tours to major European capitals and festivals, and a residency in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Antonio Pappano was born in London to Italian parents and moved with his family to the United States at the age of 13. He studied piano with Norma Verrilli, composition with Arnold Franchetti and conducting with Gustav Meier. His awards and honours include Gramophone’s »Artist of the Year« in 2000 and the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Gold Medal in 2015. In 2012 he was created a Cavaliere di Gran Croce of the Republic of Italy, and a Knight of the British Empire for his services to music.