Giuliana Zanoni takes over as artistic director of the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana

Giuliana Zanoni becomes artistic director of the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana (OSI) on 1 November 2026 and music curator of the LAC arts centre in Lugano, according to Ticinonline and the Corriere del Ticino.¹²

The post drew 54 applications, many from abroad.¹² Zanoni trained as an oboist at the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana and worked at La Scala in Milan and at Washington National Opera, where until last August she was Director of Music Operations & Artistic Administrator.¹² Until the end of the year she will work with Barbara Widmer at FOSI, the orchestra's foundation.¹ In February, Widmer had announced that she was stepping down as the OSI's artistic director for personal reasons.³

Her proposal for the OSI includes planning the repertoire several years ahead and a stronger presence for the orchestra in Italian-speaking Switzerland, including chamber groups and activities for young people.¹ The joint role is meant to bring the orchestra and LAC into closer step.¹ Both remain independent, stresses FOSI president Mario Postizzi.¹

Andrea Amarante, general director of LAC, calls it «un momento importante nel percorso verso una maggiore coerenza del sistema musicale della Svizzera italiana» (an important step towards a more joined-up music scene in Italian-speaking Switzerland).¹