Antonio Pappano, newly appointed conductor of the Santa Cecilia Orchestra will lead his musicians for the first time on 24 April at the Auditorium, Parco della Musica in Rome, in a concert of works by Haydn, Kordaly and Richard Strauss.

Pappano, born 44 years ago in England, is a United States citizen of southern Italian extraction. He will take up his appointment in 2005 while retaining his post as musical director of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London at least until 2007.

He plans to spend seven months of the year in London and 8-12 weeks of the year in Rome.

Pappano, who originally studied piano and composition in the U.S. conducted his first opera, Puccini's "La Bohme", in Oslo in 1987. He has conducted in leading concert halls and opera houses all over the world, and is an accomplished pianist who has accompanied many international singers. He records for EMI and is recognized as a rising star of the international music scene.