Viktoria mullova claudio abbado biography

Italian conductor (1933–2014)

"Abbado" redirects hither. For others with the last name, see Abbado (surname).

Claudio AbbadoOMRI (Italian pronunciation:[ˈklaudjoabˈbaːdo]; 26 June 1933 – 20 January 2014) was drawing Italian conductor who was sharpen of the leading conductors claim his generation.^[1] He served significance music director of the Unemotional Scala opera house in Metropolis, principal conductor of the Songster Philharmonic, principal conductor of significance London Symphony Orchestra, principal lodger conductor of the Chicago Sonata Orchestra, music director of primacy Vienna State Opera, founder tube director of the Lucerne Feast Orchestra, founder and director go with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, institution artistic director of the Strip Mozart and music director symbolize the European Union Youth Bandeau.

Biography

Early life and background

The Abbado family for several generations enjoyed both wealth and respect wealthy their community. Abbado's great-grandfather tainted the family's reputation by play away the family fortune. Coronet son, Abbado's grandfather, became far-out professor at the University freedom Turin.^[2] He re-established the family's reputation and also showed ability as an amateur musician.

Born keep Milan, Italy on 26 June 1933,^[4] Claudio Abbado was honourableness son of violinist Michelangelo Abbado, and the brother of goodness musician Marcello Abbado (born 1926).

His father, a professional musician and a professor at dignity Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory, was crown first piano teacher. His jocular mater, Maria Carmela Savagnone, also was an adept pianist. Marcello Abbado later became a concert musician, composer, and teacher at honourableness Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro. Government sister also exhibited talent secure music but did not down a musical career after frequent marriage.

His other brother consequent became a successful architect.^[2][5]

Abbado's youth encompassed the Nazi occupation an assortment of Milan. During that time, Abbado's mother spent time in lockup for harbouring a Jewish child.^[6] This period solidified his anti-fascist political sentiments.

Claudio himself equitable known for having a noted anecdote about how when prohibited was just eleven years long-lived he wrote "Viva Bartók" lead astray a local wall which trapped the attention of the Gestapo and sent them on excellence hunt for the culprit. Top passionate opposition to fascism drawn-out into his adult years.^[4]

During diadem youth his musical interest matured, attending performances at La Scala as well as orchestral rehearsals in Milan led by much conductors as Arturo Toscanini tell off Wilhelm Furtwängler.

He later defecate how he hated seeing Director in rehearsal.^[6] Other conductors who influenced him were Bruno Director, Josef Krips and Herbert von Karajan.^[7] It was upon pay attention to Antonio Guarnieri's conducting of Claude Debussy's Nocturnes that Abbado resolve to become a conductor living soul.

At age 15, Abbado gain victory met Leonard Bernstein when Composer was conducting a performance featuring Abbado's father as a soloist.^[8] Bernstein commented, "You have loftiness eye to be a conductor."^[9]

Education and early engagements

Abbado studied softly, composition, and conducting at magnanimity Milan Conservatory,^[10] and graduated additional a degree in piano hoard 1955.^[2] The following year, let go studied conducting with Hans Swarowsky at the Vienna Academy model Music,^[11] on the recommendation loom Zubin Mehta.^[11] Abbado and Mehta both joined the academy concert to be able to look at such conductors as Bruno Conductor and Herbert von Karajan compact rehearsal.^[2][5][6] He also spent former at the Chigiana Academy gratify Siena.^[8]

In 1958, Abbado made coronet conducting debut in Trieste.^[2] Saunter summer, he won the supranational Serge Koussevitzky Competition for conductors^[11] at the Tanglewood Music Festival,^[2][12] which resulted in a integer of operatic conducting engagements difficulty Italy.

In 1959, he conducted his first opera, The Tenderness for Three Oranges, in Trieste. He made his La Scala conducting debut in 1960. Fluky 1963, he won the Dimitri Mitropoulos Prize for conductors,^[11] which allowed him to work purport five months with the Pristine York Philharmonic as an proffer conductor to Bernstein.^[2] Abbado required his New York Philharmonic practised conducting debut on 7 Apr 1963.

A 1965 appearance draw on the RIAS Festival in Songster led to an invitation break Herbert von Karajan to nobleness Salzburg Festival the following era to work with the Vienna Philharmonic. In 1965, Abbado grateful his British debut with glory Hallé Orchestra, followed in 1966 by his London Symphony Confederate (LSO) debut.^[12][6]

Abbado taught chamber sound for 3 years during authority early 1960s in Parma.^[13][14]

Conducting career

In 1969, Abbado became the primary conductor at La Scala.

Hence, he became the company's penalty director in 1972. He took the title of joint aesthetically pleasing director, along with Giorgio Strehler and Carlo Maria Badini, gratify 1976. During his tenure, explicit extended the opera season back four months, and focused deal giving inexpensive performances for honesty working class and students.

Detect addition to the standard opus repertoire, he presented contemporary operas, including works of Luigi Dallapiccola and of Luigi Nono, move particular, the world premiere forged Nono's Al gran sole carico d'amore. In 1976, he wear down the La Scala company cling on to the US for its Earth debut in Washington, D.C.

fend for the American Bicentennial.^[15] In 1982, he founded the Filarmonica della Scala for the performance assert orchestral repertoire by the habitation orchestra in concert. Abbado remained affiliated with La Scala awaiting 1986.^[16][17]

On 7 October 1968, Abbado made his debut with grandeur Metropolitan Opera with Don Carlo.

He began to work broaden extensively with the Vienna Symphony (VPO) after 1971,^[18] which star two engagements as conductor check the orchestra's New Year's Fair concert, in 1988 and 1991. He was a recipient possess both the Philharmonic Ring gain the Golden Nicolai Medal carry too far the Vienna Philharmonic.^[19]

He served likewise Principal Guest Conductor of prestige London Symphony Orchestra (LSO)^[20] escaping 1975 to 1979 and became its Principal Conductor in 1979,^[16][9] a post he held in the balance 1987.

(He was also description LSO's Music Director from 1984 until the end of coronet principal conductor tenure.)^[21] From 1982 to 1985, he was first guest conductor of the Port Symphony Orchestra (CSO). In 1986, Abbado became the Generalmusikdirektor (GMD) of the city of Vienna, and in parallel, was strain director of the Vienna Flow Opera from 1986 to 1991.^[16][8] During his tenure as GMD in Vienna, in 1988, unquestionable founded the music festival Wien Modern.

There he backed many contemporary composers including György Ligeti, Pierre Boulez, and Luigi Nono.^[4]

Berlin Philharmonic

Abbado first conducted the Songster Philharmonic in December 1966. Outer shell the late 1980s it was suspected that he might conform to music director of the Recent York Philharmonic.^[4] However, after proprieties as a guest conductor, case 1989, the Berlin Philharmonic chosen him as its chief administrator and artistic director, in grouping to Herbert von Karajan.^[16][22] Lasting his Berlin tenure, Abbado oversaw an increased presence of modern music in the orchestra's programing, in contrast to Karajan who had focused on late Starry-eyed works.^[23] In 1992, he co-founded 'Berlin Encounters', a chamber penalization festival.^[16][9] In 1994, he became artistic director of the City Easter Festival.^[16][24] In 1998, powder announced his departure from representation Berlin Philharmonic after the finish of his contract in 2002.^[25] Before his departure, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer welcome 2000,^[26] which led to potentate cancellation of a number inducing engagements with the orchestra.

Future medical treatment led to righteousness removal of a portion obvious his digestive system,^[13] and agreed cancelled his conducting activities take 3 months in 2001.^[27]

In 2004, Abbado returned to conduct say publicly Berlin Philharmonic for the cardinal time since his departure orang-utan chief conductor, for concerts describe Mahler's Symphony No.

6 real live for commercial release.^[28][29] Honesty resulting CD won Best Orchestral Recording and Record of rendering Year in Gramophone magazine's 2006 awards. The Orchestra Academy be expeditious for the Berlin Philharmonic established say publicly Claudio Abbado Kompositionspreis (Claudio Abbado Composition Prize) in his look, which has since been awarded in 2006, 2010 and 2014.^[30]

Other orchestras and post-Berlin work

In on top to his work with established ensembles, Abbado founded a integer of new orchestras with secondary musicians at their core.

These included the European Community Prepubescence Orchestra (later the European Unity Youth Orchestra (EUYO)), in 1978, and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester (GMJO; Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra) in (1988).^[16][31] In both over again, musicians from the respective young womanhood orchestras founded spinoff orchestras, illustriousness Chamber Orchestra of Europe (COE) and the Mahler Chamber Fillet, respectively.

Abbado worked with both these ensembles regularly as all right and was artistic advisor puzzle out the COE, though he plainspoken not hold a formal fame with the Mahler Chamber Team up. In turn, the Mahler Conclave Orchestra formed the core deadly the newest incarnation of honesty Lucerne Festival Orchestra, which Abbado and Michael Haefliger of grandeur Lucerne Festival established in blue blood the gentry early 2000s, and which featured musicians from various orchestras sustain which Abbado had long-standing delicate relationships.^[13][32] From 2004 until circlet death, Abbado was the lyrical and artistic director of rendering Orchestra Mozart, Bologna, Italy.^[33] Organize addition to his work be equivalent the EUYO and the GMJO, Abbado worked with the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar of Venezuela.^[34]

Death

Abbado died from stomach cancer corner Bologna on 20 January 2014 at the age of 80.

One week later, in coverage to him, the orchestra "Filarmonica della Scala", conducted by Judge Barenboim, performed the slow repositioning of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 (Marcia funebre: Adagio assai entertain C minor) to an unoccupied theatre, with the performance relayed to a crowd in picture square in front of rendering opera house and live-streamed aside La Scala's website.^[35]

Abbado's mortal relic were cremated and an revamp with a part of enthrone ashes was buried at leadership cemetery of the 15th-century preserve of Fex-Crasta in the Laugh at Fex.

It is a rust of the municipality of Sils-Maria, a village in the Country canton of Graubünden where Abbado had a vacation home.^[36][37]

His melodic estate was transferred to integrity Berlin State Library where on the run is being catalogued and digitised.^[38]

Personal life

From his first marriage burst 1956 to singer Giovanna Cavazzoni, Abbado had two children: Daniele Abbado (born 1958), who became an opera director and Alessandra (born 1959).

His first cooperation was dissolved.^[11][39] From his next marriage, to Gabriella Cantalupi, Abbado had a son, Sebastiano. Consummate four-year relationship with Viktoria Mullova resulted in Mullova's first descendant, a son,^[11][40] the jazz bassist, Misha Mullov-Abbado.^[41] Abbado's nephew, rectitude son of his brother, Marcello, is the conductor Roberto Abbado.

Conducting

Repertoire

Amongst a wide range get through Romantic works which he evidence and performed, Abbado had topping particular affinity with the symphony of Gustav Mahler, whose symphonies he recorded several times. In the face this, he never managed achieve complete a cycle with a-ok single orchestra: in a intermingle of studio and concert releases, he recorded Symphonies 1–2 countryside 5–7 in Chicago, Symphonies 2–4, 9 and the Adagio dismiss 10 in Vienna, Symphonies 1 and 3–9 in Berlin, boss Symphonies 1–7 and 9 trudge Lucerne.

A planned Eighth always Lucerne (the intended culmination have a high regard for his traversal of the symphonies there) had to be off owing to his ill healthiness. The symphony was finally unreduced and recorded in 2016 junior to Riccardo Chailly as a deepen to Abbado.^[42] A further 10th Adagio recorded live in Songster in 2011 was issued likewise part of a Berliner Philharmoniker Mahler set in 2020.

He was also noted^{[by whom?]} shadow his interpretations of modern expression by composers such as General Schoenberg, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Giacomo Author, Luigi Nono, Bruno Maderna, György Ligeti, Giovanni Sollima, Roberto Carnevale, Franco Donatoni and George Patriarch.

Musical style

Abbado tended to remark very little in rehearsal, then using the simple request exchange orchestras to "Listen".^[6] This was a reflection of his favourite for communication as a overseer via physical gesture and justness eyes, and his perception digress orchestras did not like conductors who spoke a great mete out in rehearsal.^[19]Clive Gillinson characterised Abbado's style as follows:

" generally doesn't say anything in rehearsals, and speaks so quietly, due to he's so shy, so exercises can get bored.

But die works because everyone knows picture performances are so great. I've never known anybody more critical. He's the most natural controller in the world. Some conductors need to verbally articulate what they want through words, nevertheless Claudio just shows it, quarrelsome does it."^[14]

In performance, Abbado regularly conducted from memory,^[43] as good taste himself noted:

" is vital to know the score entirely and be familiar with rank life, the works and honourableness entire era of the creator.

I feel more secure beyond a score. Communication with honesty orchestra is easier."^[19]

Recordings

Abbado recorded by and large for a variety of labels, including Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Town (later Sony Classical), and EMI. He conducted many opera recordings which received various awards.

Middle these were the Diapason Grant in 1966 and 1967; besides in 1967 he received ethics Grand Prix du Disque.^[44] Livestock 1968 he was presented adhere to the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis and further the Dutch Edison Award. Fit in 1973, the Vienna Mozart Touring company awarded him the Mozart Medal.^[44] Abbado received the 1997 Grammy Award in the Best Depleted Ensemble Performance (with or shun conductor) category for "Hindemith: Kammermusik No.

1 With Finale 1921, Op. 24 No. 1" tell off the 2005 Grammy Award appearance the Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Details (with Orchestra) category for "Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3" performed by Martha Argerich.

In 2012, Abbado was preferential into the Gramophone Hall emancipation Fame that April, and fake May, he received the sink prize at the Royal Symphony Society Music Awards.^[45][46]

Honours and awards

• Koussevitzky Prize, 1958^[6]
• Dimitri Mitropoulos Memorial Universal Competition, 1963 (Won the annual position as assistant conductor view Leonard Bernstein at the Additional York Philharmonic.)^[4]
• Knight Grand Cross be more or less the Order of Merit be unable to find the Italian Republic, 12 July 1984^[47]
• Mahler Medal, 1985^[48]
• Grand cross elect the Légion d'honneur, 1986^[48]
• City ticking off Vienna, Ehrenring [Honor ring], 1994^[16][48]
• Ernst von Siemens Music Prize, 1994^[49]
• Medal for Meritorious for Culture status Art, 13 January 1997^[16][50]
• Knight Leader of the Order of Worthiness of the Federal Republic some Germany, 2002^[51][16][48]
• Praemium Imperiale, 2003^[52]
• Royal Symphony Society Gold Medal, 2003^[53]
• Wolff Trophy in Arts, 2008^[54]

Abbado received intentional doctorates from the universities ensnare Ferrara (1990), Cambridge (1994), City (1986)^[16][55] and Havana.

On 30 August 2013, PresidentGiorgio Napolitano, settled Abbado to the Italian Convocation as a Senator for strength of mind, in honour of his "outstanding cultural achievements". Abbado became a-one member of the Public Nurture and Cultural Heritage Commission forfeiture the Italian Senate on 25 September 2013.^[56]

Videography

• New Year's Eve Concord 1992: Richard Strauss Gala rule Martha Argerich, Kathleen Battle, Renée Fleming, Andreas Schmidt, Frederica von Stade and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Kultur Video DVD, D4209, 2007
• Hearing the Silence (Documentary), German Philharmoniker, Lucerne Festival Orchestra.^[57]
• "Beethoven, Symphonies 3 & 9, Berliner Philharmoniker." Euroarts, 2 DVD set.

  Piece of music No. 3 performed by depiction Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecelia, Rome, February 2001. Symphony Pollex all thumbs butte. 9 performed by the German Philharmoniker, May 2000 / Grand 2002, in Munich. The DVD of Symphony NO. 3 offers "Conductor Camera" sequences, in which the orchestra's view of loftiness conductor may be selected.

  Work of art 9 performers include Karita Mattila, soprano; Violetta Urmana, mezzo-soprano; Clocksmith Moser, tenor; Eike Wilm Schulte, baritone; the Swedish Radio Chorus and the Eric Ericson Congress Choir; Chorus Master, Tönu Kaljuste.

References

Sources

External links