New leadership at Bologna's opera house

Pierangelo Conte has been named the new general and artistic director of the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, a major opera house in Italy. He took on the role yesterday, bringing a wealth of experience in opera administration and programming.

Background on Conte's career

Conte was born in 1967 and has held several high-profile positions in Italy's opera world. He previously worked as the artistic director of the Teatro Comunale since July 2025, helping to shape the theater’s programming for the years 2026 and 2027 alongside Elisabetta Riva, whom he is now succeeding.

Previous roles and experience

Before joining the Teatro Comunale, Conte worked as the artistic secretary of the Teatro La Fenice in Venice from 2005 to 2014. He later became the artistic coordinator of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino from 2014 to 2021 and the artistic director of the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa from 2021 to 2025.

Involvement in cultural heritage

Since November 2024, Conte has been representing the ANFOLS, an association of Italian opera and symphony foundations, on a committee focused on Italian lyrical singing. This art form has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, highlighting its significance in global culture.