He was well received when he conducted the theater’s orchestra a few weeks ago as part of their symphonic season and has regularly appeared on international stages.

He succeeds maestro Will Humburg who resigned in December. “I am greatly honored by this appointment, because this is the first time a Chinese conductor has come to Italy to direct a theater with a great tradition such as the Massimo Bellini,” Zhong declared.

Xu Zhong was the founder and director of the International Piano Competition of Shanghai and artistic director of the Shanghai Philharmonic. He lis also principal guest conductor of the KBS Symphony Orchestra in Seoul, South Korea.

Frank Cadenhead