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Michael Summers was born in Stockholm, Sweden, of English and German parents. He was brought up in Cape Town, South Africa, where he began his musical education with a choral scholarship to the choir of St. George’s Cathedral at the age of 7.
He completed his organ diploma at the age of 18. While studying for his B-Mus degree he was actively engaged in professional music in Cape Town playing percussion (in which he holds a Performer’s Diploma) and piano in both the Symphony and Opera House orchestras and directing and training the chorus for opera and choral performances. He also gave numerous organ recitals during this period.
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His academic results earned him a 3-year post-graduate scholarship for study in Europe. He studied conducting in Madrid and completed his M-Mus at the University of London. He is a Fellow of the Trinity College of Music in London and has performer’s diplomas from The Royal Schools of Music in London and the University of South Africa.
After graduating from the University of London he was awarded an Italian Government Scholarship by the Italian Institute of Culture in London and studied at the Conservatory of Music in Milan. The scholarship, exceptionally, was awarded to him again 2 years later.
Michael Summers worked as assistant conductor at the Monte Carlo Opera House for 3 seasons and collaborated with the Teatro dell’Opera in Rome and the Covent Garden Opera House in London.
He has conducted at festivals all over the world such as those in Ann Arbor (MI), Charleston (SC), Edinburgh, Berlin, Paris, and the Biennale in Venice, Italy. While on tour in Melbourne, Australia, he was noticed by Gian Carlo Menotti, composer and founder of the Spoleto Festival, who invited him to be the assistant music director at his festivals in Italy and the USA.
Michael Summers has conducted opera in Europe, the USA and South Africa and for 3 years was invited to conduct the Budapest Symphony Orchestra on their annual opera tour in central Europe.
In 1996 he was appointed Head of the Conducting Faculty at the Conservatory of Campobasso.
In 2000, Menotti called him back to Spoleto as Music Consultant. After 2 seasons he left Spoleto to head the newly-formed faculty of Conducting at the Conservatory of Monopoli in Puglia.
In addition to his musical activities he is a passionate student of the history and culture of the ancient world and has just completed by correspondence a B.A degree in Classical Culture (awarded with distinction) through the University of South Africa and has twice been awarded a Merit Scholarship by the University.
His first CD, issued by Brilliant, conducting the complete guitar concertos of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, was issued in April 2006 and was awarded a 5-star rating by the two principal music magazines in Italy, Amadeus and Musica. From June to December 2006 it was Brilliant’s best-selling disc.
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GAETA FESTIVAL 2007
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DATE |
1 - 7 September 2007 |
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PLACE |
Church of Sorresca Church of Santa Lucia Church of Annunziata |
GUEST
ARTIST |
Nicoletta Brancale
Piano
Gaetano Simone – Violoncello
Giovanna Tricarico – Clavicembalo
Nicoletta Brancale
Piano
Maurizio Zaccaria
Piano
“Le Parrucche di Hoffman” Opera teatrale di Alessandro Zignani
Quintetto Limes
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With
Patronage of: |
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The city of Gaeta |
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The Province of
Latina |
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