 He was appointed Artistic Director of the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania from 1991-1994 for which he won the Premio Abbiati (Italian music critics award) for 1991/1992 for Best Organiser.He was awarded the same award as well in 1987/1988 for Best Show, “Jenufa" of Leoš Janáček, performed at the Spoleto Festival which he conducted and Günter Krämer directed.Memorable still remains his conducting of Richard Strauss “Elektra” with Krämer signing the production and Deborah Polaski in the title role as well as Mozart’s “Nozze di Figaro” directed by Gian Carlo Menotti and the part of the Countess sung by the very young Renee Fleming and Susanna sung by Youngok Shin.