"...extremely musical...a natural born
conductor..." Sir Georg Solti
"...vigorously expressive..."
New York Times
"At every turn, Stephen D'Agostino (a young, New
York-born conductor making his Philadelphia debut) was a sympathetic
accompanist, but one not without his own strong ideas. He was best
displayed in Wagner's Siegfried Idyll, in an excitable performance
full of the sort of shifting tempos and violin portamentos that
suggested he was out to recapture 19th-century performance practices
(a highly worthwhile endeavor). Most important, he avoided the
sugar-coating that can make this piece, written to commemorate the
birth of the composer's son, as soporific as a lullaby."
The Philadelphia Inquirer
"Maestro D’Agostino mesmerized both the
orchestra and the audience."
24 Oré
"...an amazing performance..."
TV Katowice
"[Stephen D'Agostino] conducted [Mozart’s]
Prague Symphony with a seductive mixture of devotion and temperament."
Hofer Anzeiger/Frankenpost
"The compelling American guest conductor Stephen
D'Agostino [presented Mozart's Clarinet Concerto] in a sparkling
realization...The highly homogenous Hof Orchestra played with total
unity - not least thanks to Stephen D'Agostino's youthful elan... Even
the audience was drawn into the course of the music by the likeable
D'Agostino's small gestures."
Frankenpost Frankenwald
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In 1995 at the invitation
of the late Sir Georg Solti, Stephen D'Agostino became assistant to
the great conductor for two extensive tours of Europe with the
Budapest Festival Orchestra. He was Principal Guest Conductor of the
Tirgu-Mures Philharmonic from 1993 to 1995, Principal Guest Conductor
of the Duna Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 1999 and Music Director of
the Hungaro-Austro Philharmonic from 1998 to 2001. A successful
conducting debut at the Hungarian State Opera has also led to regular
invitations to perform there.
New York born conductor Stephen D'Agostino has experienced a steady
procession of awards and successes. The 2005-2006 season marks the
beginning of his tenure as Music Director of the Corvinus Symphony
Orchestra with tours of Germany, Italy and Finland. His awards include
a Fulbright Grant, which led him to Europe, specifically Hungary, to
continue his studies; the Leonard Bernstein Fellowship; the New York
Philharmonic Fellowship; and the Special Prize at the Grzegorz
Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors.
An increasingly sought-after guest conductor in Europe, he has
appeared with the Hofer Symphoniker, Iasi State Philharmonic
"Moldova", Erno Dohnanyi Symphony, Budapest Festival Orchestra,
Hungarian State Orchestra, Hungarian Radio Orchestra, Weiner-Szasz
Chamber Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestras of Györ, Szeged,
Tatabanya and Tirgu Mures.
Recent appearances in the United States include performances at the
Washington Square Park Music Festival and with the Chamber Ballet of
Williamsburg, the Jacksonville Symphony and the Astral Chamber
Orchestra of Philadelphia.
Mr. D'Agostino studied at the Manhattan School of Music, during which
time he served as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the
Manhattan Concerto Orchestra for three seasons.
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