{"id":32920,"date":"2023-09-21T12:41:28","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T10:41:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/?p=3342"},"modified":"2023-09-21T13:39:58","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T11:39:58","slug":"who-was-claudio-abbado-the-world-renowned-italian-conductor","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/who-was-claudio-abbado-the-world-renowned-italian-conductor\/","title":{"rendered":"Who was Claudio Abbado, the world-renowned Italian conductor?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A guide to the legendary Italian conductor Claudio Abbado, known for his lyrical, effortlessly musical renditions of everyone from Mozart to Mahler <\/p>

By Jeremy Pound\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 21 September 2023 at 10:41 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Here\u2019s our guide to the legendary and much-loved conductor Claudio Abbado, known for his joy in music-making and eloquent performances of music from Mozart<\/strong><\/a> to Mahler<\/strong><\/a> and universally recognised as one of the greatest conductors of all time<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Who was Claudio Abbado?<\/h2>\n
One of the most revered and best loved conductors of his generation, Claudio Abbado (1933-2014) enjoyed a distinguished career, conducting at the world\u2019s most famous opera houses and concert halls for well over half a century.<\/p>\n
He also became, of course, a familiar face conducting some of the world\u2019s best orchestras<\/strong><\/a>. The list of prestigious posts that Abbado held included principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, music director of La Scala<\/strong><\/a> opera house in Milan and principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\nPerhaps, though, one of the posts for which he will be most fondly remembered is as music director of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, an exceptional ad hoc<\/em> ensemble that has been running on a seasonal basis since 2003, with Abbado personally selecting its players. In September 2008, David Nice wrote in BBC Music Magazine<\/em> that the orchestra\u2019s performance of Mahler\u2019s symphonies were \u2018easily the greatest orchestral music-making of the 21st century so far\u2019, a sentiment regularly echoed elsewhere.<\/p>\n<h2>When was Claudio Abbado born?<\/h2>\nBorn in Milan in 1933, Abbado studied his musical studies in his home city.<\/p>\n<h3>Where did Claudio Abbado study?<\/h3>\nAfter initial studies in Milan, Abbado moved on to the Vienna Conservatory before, in 1958, he propelled himself to fame by winning the Serge Koussevitzky Competition for conductors at the Tanglewood Festival in the US.<\/p>\nThat win, plus another at the Dimitri Mitropoulos Prize five years later, led to him conducting major orchestras both in Italy and the US \u2013 the latter including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra, three of America\u2019s so-called \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/big-five-orchestras\/\">Big Five<\/strong><\/a>\u2018 orchestras.<\/p>\n<h3>How long did Abbado spend at La Scala?<\/h3>\nIn 1960, Abbado conducted at La Scala for the first time, beginning a relationship that would prove both long-lasting and of major significance. Appointed as music director in 1968, his tenure saw the foundation of the Filarmonica della Scala orchestra in 1982 along with a number of moves aimed at widening the opera house\u2019s audience base. He also championed the work of contemporary composers such as Berio and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/stockhausen-5\/\">Stockhausen<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nAbbado\u2019s departure from La Scala in 1986 was followed two years later by the end of his time as principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, a position he had taken up in 1977. His next destination was Berlin, where he took on the daunting challenge of leading the Berlin Philharmonic after the death of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/karajan-conducting-five-fantastic-karajan-moments\/\">Herbert von Karajan<\/strong><\/a>. Abbado joined a long line of illustrious <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/berlin-philharmonics-past-chief-conductors\/\">Berlin Philharmonic conductors<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"standard-card-new__article-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/controversy-karajan-eight-quotes\/\">The controversy of Karajan in eight quotes<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>When was Claudio Abbado with the Berlin Philharmonic?<\/h2>\nAbbado\u2019s spell in the German capital, which lasted from 1989 to 1998, was an outstanding success, and many of the recordings he made with the orchestra have gone on to enjoy cult status. These include their second complete <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/ludwig-van-beethoven\/\">Beethoven<\/strong><\/a> symphony cycle, one of the very<a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/best-recordings-beethovens-symphonies\/\"> best Beethoven symphony sets<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nThis is the cycle about which BBC Music Magazine<\/em>\u2019s Michael Tanner wrote that there is \u2018no modern set that I would rather hear than these\u2019, adding that \u2018it really does make you hear these works afresh, and no lover of Beethoven can fail to revel in and learn from it.\u2019<\/p>\n<iframe title=\"Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 \/ Abbado \u00b7 Berliner Philharmoniker\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YgIrf_zTJco?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nThough Abbado\u2019s career after leaving Berlin was beset by ill health \u2013 he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2000 \u2013 his reputation as a conductor continued to soar, not just at the helm of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra but also with ensembles such as the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and his own Orchestra Mozart.<\/p>\n<h2>What is Claudio Abbado best known for?<\/h2>\nAn inspiring mentor to and champion of many young conductors, not least the Venezuelan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/news\/gustavo-dudamel-announced-as-music-director-of-new-york-philharmonic\/\">Gustavo Dudamel<\/strong><\/a> who described him as being \u2018like a father\u2019 (BBC Music Magazine<\/em>, June 2008), Abbado was universally adored by his players. Among the many awards and honours he received over the course of his life, one of the most prestigious came in August 2013, when he was appointed as a Senator for life in Italy.<\/p>\n<h2>What were Abbado\u2019s best recordings?<\/h2>\nAnd then, of course, there are the recordings. Among Claudio Abbado\u2019s many much-admired recordings are the aforementioned (second) Beethoven symphony cycle with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Beethoven-Mattila-Quasthoff-Berliner-Philharmoniker\/dp\/B001795SH8\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ELV011SYE3TA&keywords=beethoven+symphonies+abbado&qid=1695293257&sprefix=beethoven+symphonies+abbado%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1&tag=classicalm05c-21&ascsubtag=classicalmusic-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener noreferrer\">Buy from Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHis performances of Mahler\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/five-essential-works-mahler\/\">Symphony No. 2<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/claude-debussy\/\">Debussy<\/strong><\/a>\u2018s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/quick-guide-debussys-la-mer\/\">La Mer<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, both with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, are both recognised as among the finest performances of each work, and are united on one stunning disc.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Mahler-Symphony-No-Resurrection-Debussy\/dp\/B0002HN15W\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16FYBRTLVI6LT&keywords=abbado+debussy+lucerne&qid=1695293445&sprefix=abbado+debussy+lucerne%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-1&tag=classicalm05c-21&ascsubtag=classicalmusic-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener noreferrer\">Buy from Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nAbbado also had a very persuasive way with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/anton-bruckner\/\">Bruckner<\/strong><\/a>. His patience and feel for the underlying pulse and architecture of the music made him ideally suited for this composer. Deutsche Grammophon has a nice boxed set of Abbado\u2019s Bruckner symphonies, with both the Lucerne and Vienna Philharmonic orchestras.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Philharmoniker-Lucerne-Festival-Orchestra-Claudio\/dp\/B00JJ9DYU6\/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1G79BVEL1TA9C&keywords=abbado+bruckner+5&qid=1695293624&sprefix=abbado+bruckner+%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-3&tag=classicalm05c-21&ascsubtag=classicalmusic-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener noreferrer\">Buy from Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<iframe title=\"A. Bruckner - Symphony No. 7 - Lucerne Festival Orchestra - Claudio Abbado\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/x_IbwlSXHpQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nClaudio Abbado was much loved by performers \u2013 and that includes soloists, making him a sought-after concerto conductor as well. He and the Berlin Phil accompanied the legendary pianist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/who-is-martha-argerich-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-brilliant-pianist\/\">Martha Argerich<\/strong><\/a> beautifully in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/sergey-prokofiev\/\">Prokofiev<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/maurice-ravel\/\">Ravel<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Prokofiev-Piano-Concerto-No-Ravel\/dp\/B000001GQQ\/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2854HDYQJG16L&keywords=abbado+argerich&qid=1695293781&sprefix=abbado+argerich%2Caps%2C67&sr=8-6&tag=classicalm05c-21&ascsubtag=classicalmusic-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener noreferrer\">Buy from Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWe must also salute Abbado\u2019s mastery in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/20-greatest-operas-all-time\/\">opera<\/strong><\/a>, especially the works of Mozart and the conductor\u2019s Italian compatriots <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/giuseppe-verdi\/\">Verdi<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/gioachino-rossini\/\">Rossini<\/strong><\/a>. Here he is performing wonders in Rossini\u2019s La Cenerentola<\/em>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Rossini-Cenerentola-Claudio-Abbado\/dp\/B000JBWW6A\/ref=sr_1_8?crid=5N8NG7D3WJ0H&keywords=rossini+abbado&qid=1695293988&s=music&sprefix=rossini+abbado%2Cpopular%2C65&sr=1-8&tag=classicalm05c-21&ascsubtag=classicalmusic-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener noreferrer\">Buy from Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThere is also, poignantly, a recording of Abbado\u2019s last concert, with the Berlin Philharmonic. This features typically eloquent and joyful performances of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/felix-mendelssohn\/\">Mendelssohn<\/strong><\/a>\u2018s A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/em> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/hector-berlioz\/\">Berlioz<\/strong><\/a>\u2018s Symphonie Fantastique<\/em>. \u2018A recording to treasure,\u2019 notes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/orchestral\/claudio-abbado-last-concert\/\">our reviewer Roger Nichols<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Claudio-Abbado-Berlioz-Berliner-Philharmoniker\/dp\/B01AT52NZ0\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CIVFYN6EHKFH&keywords=abbado+the+last+concert&qid=1695294279&s=music&sprefix=abbado+the+last+concert%2Cpopular%2C68&sr=1-1&tag=classicalm05c-21&ascsubtag=classicalmusic-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener noreferrer\">Buy from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>When did Claudio Abbado die?<\/h2>\nClaudio Abbado died from stomach cancer in the Italian city of Bologna, on 20 January 2014 at the age of 80.<\/p>\n<h3>Where is Claudio Abbado buried?<\/h3>\nAbbado is buried in Val Fex in Switzerland. His musical estate was transferred to the Berlin State Library for cataloguing and digitisation.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A guide to the legendary Italian conductor Claudio Abbado, known for his lyrical, effortlessly musical renditions of everyone from Mozart to Mahler <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":32921,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/09\/who-was-claudio-abbado-the-world-renowned-italian-conductor.jpg",200,200,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/09\/who-was-claudio-abbado-the-world-renowned-italian-conductor-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/09\/who-was-claudio-abbado-the-world-renowned-italian-conductor.jpg",200,200,false],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/09\/who-was-claudio-abbado-the-world-renowned-italian-conductor.jpg",200,200,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/09\/who-was-claudio-abbado-the-world-renowned-italian-conductor.jpg",200,200,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/09\/who-was-claudio-abbado-the-world-renowned-italian-conductor.jpg",200,200,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/09\/who-was-claudio-abbado-the-world-renowned-italian-conductor.jpg",200,200,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A guide to the legendary Italian conductor Claudio Abbado, known for his lyrical, effortlessly musical renditions of everyone from Mozart to Mahler","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/32920"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}