Rizzo takes over the concert division of Konzert und Theater St. Gallen

Born and raised in Rome, Pietro Rizzo studied violin - first in his home town, then in Siena and Dallas. He then went on to study orchestral conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki with Jorma Panula and Leif Segerstam. Engagements have taken him to the Aalto Theater in Essen as principal conductor, he was principal conductor at Gothenburg Opera and he is a regular guest conductor at the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki. Pietro Rizzo will make his debut at the Bregenz Festival in summer 2026. Between 2001 and 2019, he held a guest professorship at the International Opera Academy (IOA) in Ghent.

Pietro Rizzo emerged as the clear favorite against more than 30 competitors in a seven-stage application process over several months. He will take over from Modestas Pitrenas at the start of the 2026/27 season. At the same time as Pietro Rizzo's election, the contracts of two other directors were extended early: Barbara-David Brüesch and Frank Fannar Pedersen will remain Head of Drama and Head of Dance respectively until at least the end of the 2030/31 season.