Rafael Payare

Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare was born in Puerto la Cruz on 23 February 1980. He studied French horn, joined El Sistema and became principal horn with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. He studied conducting with José Antonio Abreu, won the Malko Competition and worked as assistant to Claudio Abbado and Daniel Barenboim.

He became chief conductor/music director of the Ulster Orchestra in 2014, following a guest appearance, and continued in this post until 2019, when he became music director of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in the USA. In 2022 he became music director of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.

Further information: rafaelpayare.com

 

A selection of articles about Rafael Payare

Ensemble. A Plush and Robust Sound - Paul Bodine listens to music by Unsuk Chin and Bruckner, played by Alisa Weilerstein and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra conducted by Rafael Payare

Ensemble. Truly a Spectacle - Frances Forbes-Carbines strongly recommends Puccini's 'Turandot' at Covent Garden

Ensemble. Unique Strengths - Ron Bierman listens to music by Billy Childs, Sergei Prokofiev, Nikolai Medtner and Ludwig van Beethoven played by Alexander Malofeev, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and conductor Rafael Payare

Classical music news. February 2025 Newsletter - Our February 2025 PDF newsletter has just been published

Ensemble. A Riotous Mix - Ron Bierman is impressed with music by Richard Strauss and Dmitri Shostakovich

Ensemble. Not the Longest Ever Written - Ron Bierman listens to Mahler's 'Resurrection' Symphony and a new work by Thomas Larcher in San Diego's newly renovated Jacobs Music Center

Ensemble. An Exciting New Performance Space - Ron Bierman visits the newly restored Jacobs Music Center in San Diego

Ensemble. A Terrific Concert - Ron Bierman listens to Gill Shaham and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra conducted by Rafael Payare

Ensemble. A Wake-up Call - Ron Bierman listens to orchestral music by Carlos Simon and by Wagner arranged by Lorin Maazel

Ensemble. An Evening of Marvelous Musical Variety - Ron Bierman listens to Pacho Flores, Rafael Payare and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra playing music by Roberto Sierra, Bernstein and Rachmaninov

Ensemble. Undeniable Brilliance and Thrills - Ron Bierman listens to Brahms, Dvořák and Gity Razaz

Profile. Suffering and Delight - Ron Bierman talks to conductor Rafael Payare

Beyond COVID-19 - Ron Bierman takes a look at the current classical music scene in San Diego

Ensemble. A Booming Success - Ron Bierman reports on the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, live at its upgraded outdoor concert hall

Ensemble. Horns and Headlights? - Ron Bierman reports on San Diego Opera's 'La bohème' from a parking lot in San Diego

Ensemble. A Nuanced, Idiomatic Portrayal - San Diego Opera's first drive-in opera - 'La bohème', appreciated by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Alternative Energy - San Diego Symphony's new music director Rafael Payare conducts music by Mason Bates and Gustav Mahler, heard by Ron Bierman