Goffredo Petrassi described the Maestro thus: “I met Francesco La Vecchia when he was Franco Ferrara’s favourite student. He is a conductor gifted with rare musical sensitivity and one of the most advanced conducting techniques today. His performances are animated by an interior fervour that illuminates music, a fervour that is conveyed to the equally enthusiastic audience. A great artist.”
Born in Rome, Francesco La Vecchia began his music studies under his maternal grandfather. Aged 9, he performed his first concert. At 18, he led and founded the Boccherini Quintet and at the age of 23, he conceived the idea of the Fondazione Arts Academy in Rome. Aged 27, he was appointed Permanent Conductor of the Orchestra della Istituzione Sinfonica di Roma.
He has conducted over one hundred of the world’s most illustrious orchestras and made recordings in Japan, Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Italy. His “Maestro” record series, named after La Vecchia himself by the Avvenimenti weekly publication, topped the record charts in 1999.
He founded the Orchestra Sinfonica del Lazio, the New World Young Orchestra, two music festivals in Italy and one in Brazil. He has also held the role of Artistic Director, Principal Guest Conductor and Music Director in orchestras, theatres and music festivals in Hungary, Brazil, Mexico and Portugal.
In 2002, he was appointed Artistic Director and Permanent Conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma: under his leadership, the Orchestra has become one of the most acclaimed, prestigious orchestras in Europe in just a few short years. He has conducted his orchestra on triumphant tours in St. Petersburg, Madrid, Belgrade, Brussels, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, London, Athens and Berlin.
Francesco La Vecchia has also been awarded: a Career Recognition Prize during the European Year of Music; Honours conveyed by Presidents and Culture Ministers in the republics of Brazil, Hungary, Moldavia, France, Mexico and South Africa. In addition, many cities across the world have awarded Maestro La Vecchia honorary citizenship.
In the six Seasons since the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma was founded, Francesco La Vecchia has already conducted around 300 performances with over 100 different symphonic programmes, 18 Masses and Oratories, and 21 operas. With regard to this extraordinary workload, in an article entitled, “The Titan and his music”, the author writes: “It is not an athletic record, but a veritable artistic undertaking brought to life thanks to boundless musical knowledge…at his concerts, one very often witnesses authentic triumphs, with the audience that jumps to its feet and acclaims the end of the performance with ovations and endless applause.”
He records Brilliant and Naxos: that record company has appointed him as well as Artistic Director of the recording series named "Italian Classics”.