About

Co-presented by Washington Performing Arts and the Kennedy Center.

Part of the Orchestra's first U.S. tour in nearly 50 years!

Founded in 1908, the lauded Rome-based orchestra brings to Washington the works for which it is best known—the Italian opera and concert repertoire—and a rare concerto performance by piano legend (and 2016 Kennedy Center Honoree) Martha Argerich. Conducted by Music Director Sir Antonio Pappano, the program features Verdi's Aida Sinfonia, Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3, and Respighi’s quintessentially Italian symphonic poems Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome—the latter two works premiered by the orchestra in the early 20th century.

"The playing that Antonio Pappano obtains from the Santa Cecilia Orchestra wonderfully mixes refinement and power."--The Guardian