The Assembly of the Founding Bodies of the Rossini Opera Festival has confirmed Ernesto Palacio as Intendant for another four-year period 2023-2026.

Palacio began as Artistic Director of the ROF in 2016 and the following year, as Director of the Accademia Rossiniana. In 2017, he was named the Festival Intendant.

In a statement, the President of the ROF Daniele Vimini said, “The re-election of Ernesto Palacio, decided by the Assembly of Founding Bodies, will allow us to continue the fruitful work already underway in view of the goal of Pesaro Italian Capital of Culture 2024 and the Festival’s increasing projection on an international level. Palacio has been able to hold the reins of the Festival firmly even in hard times such as the two-year pandemic period, in which our activity has never stopped thanks to courageous and enlightened choices. In the next four years, we will have new challenges before us, which we will face with confidence and determination under his leadership”.

Palacio had an international career as a tenor performing with such conductors as Claudio Abbado, Thomas Schippers, James Levine, Riccardo Chailly, Georges Prêtre, and Alberto Zedda. He also discovered and launched numerous prominent artists of the Bel Canto generation and is considered one of the greatest international experts in Rossini vocalism. His repertoire included 80 works and he made 40 recordings including eight Rossini operas.