Praised for his energy and integrity on the podium, Francesco Milioto is forging a unique career as a versatile interpreter of both the operatic and symphonic repertoire. He is currently Music Director of both OPERA San Antonio and Holy City Arts and Lyric Opera, as well as Artistic Advisor to the Florentine Opera in Milwaukee. Mr. Milioto enjoys guest conducting relationships with a wide variety of organizations, and cover conductor positions with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and The Santa Fe Opera.
In addition to his role as Artistic Advisor at the Florentine Opera, Maestro Milioto begins the season with his much-anticipated debut for the company in their production of Rigoletto. Mr. Milioto then heads to Charleston to make his debut with Holy City Arts and Lyric Opera in Verdi’s La traviata. Following his successful work last spring with The Atlanta Opera in their Big Tent series, he will return to Atlanta to conduct a delightful production of The Pirates of Penzance. Now in his eighth season as a cover conductor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Mr. Milioto is excited to work on LOC’s performances of the ground-breaking new opera Fire Shut Up in My Bones. Maestro Milioto will then return to San Antonio where, as Music Director, he will lead Verdi’s Rigoletto. The season will close with a production of Cabaret in the Atlanta Opera’s Big Tent Series.
Since the summer of 2015 Mr.Milioto has been a member of the distinguished music staff at The Santa Fe Opera, where he will return in 2022 to work on Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde. Though most of last season was cancelled due to the pandemic, Maestro Milioto was able to return to performances this past spring not only in Atlanta, but also in San Antonio where OSA produced a much anticipated and highly praised production of Lucia di Lammermoor. Following those performances Mr. Milioto worked as a cover conductor for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s filmed version of Pagliacci, alongside new music director, Enrique Mazzola. He then spent the summer of 2021 with The Santa Fe Opera collaborating on a successful production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin.
As a music director and guest conductor Mr. Milioto has thrived in Chicago and beyond. Over his many years in Chicago he claimed the title of Music Director to the New Millennium Orchestra, the Skokie Valley Symphony, the Highland Park Strings, Access Contemporary Music, and the Chicago Cultural Center Summer Opera. As a guest conductor he has amassed several critically acclaimed productions with Chicago Opera Theater and has collaborated with many professional local orchestras. His work with the New Millennium Orchestra and
Chicago Opera Theater were each named to the Chicago Sun-Times list of the “10 best performances of the year.” Mr. Milioto is particularly proud of his work with the New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago, which he co-found in 2005. The NMO had an incredible range of repertoire, playing everything from classical music and opera to collaborations with jazz and hip-hop artists. His highly acclaimed work over ten seasons with both the Highland Park Strings and Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra ranged from early music to the most contemporary works, and often featured world-renowned soloists. As Artistic Director/Conductor of Access Contemporary Music, Mr. Milioto led the brilliantly vibrant ensemble Palomar, which has been featured on the radio and in performances throughout the city and abroad. He has also conducted successful productions with Opera Santa Barbara, Opera Southwest, Elgin Opera, and Opera on the James.
As a cover/assistant conductor, Mr. Milioto has flourished under world-class mentorship. He is currently in his sixth season at Lyric Opera of Chicago where he has been fortunate enough to work closely with Sir Andrew Davis, and other luminaries, on several operas and concerts. He is also a member of the music staff at The Santa Fe Opera and has worked at both the Canadian Opera Company and The Dallas Opera. For 10 seasons Mr. Milioto worked with the Ravinia Festival as an assistant conductor, pianist, vocal coach and prompter being involved in over a dozen operas, and many concerts with such artists as Daniel Barenboim and James Conlon.
