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Mario Bernardi

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1992
The CPO embarks on Pipeline Tour, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Symphony
Hall in Boston, Kennedy Center in Sashington, D.C. and Toronto and Montreal.
1993
Mario Bernardi becomes Conductor Laureate. Leonard Stone is appointed Executive
Director.
Victor Sawa is appointed Resident Conductor beginning with
the 1994/95 Season.
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Mario Bernardi, Principal Conductor of the CBC Vancouver Symphony since 1983 and Conductor Laureate of the Calgary Philharmonic, was born in Canada of Italian heritage. He received his early musical training in Italy at the Venice Conservatory, returned to his native Canada to complete studies at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, and went on to establish a considerable reputation as a pianist.
He made his operatic conducting debut in 1957 with the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. Subsequent appearances in Canada led to an invitation in 1963 to conduct the Sadlers Wells Opera, where he was appointed Music Director in 1966. During this time, he made numerous guest appearances including debuts with the London Symphony and the Royal Philharmonic.
In 1969, Maestro Bernardi became the Music Director of the new National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, a position he held for thirteen seasons. In addition he was the Artistic Director of the National Arts Centre’s highly successful Summer Opera Festival which produced over twenty operas from 1971 to 1982.
In 1984, Maestro Bernardi became the Music Director of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he held until 1992. During his tenure, the Calgary Philharmonic recorded a number of critically-acclaimed compact discs and rose to become one of the top orchestras in Canada. Maestro’s Bernardi’s guest conducting appearances take him throughout the world, and he continues to record with all major Canadian orchestras.
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