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Claudio Abbado served as music director of La Scala from 1968 to 1986 and chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic from 1990 to 2002. He founded the European Union Youth Orchestra in 1978 and the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra in 1988. He was appointed Senator for Life by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in 2013 and died of stomach cancer in Bologna on January 20, 2014.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Claudio Abbado — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Claudio Abbado by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Claudio Abbado — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
During World War II, as a child, Claudio Abbado scrawled Viva Bartok on a wall. Born on June 26, 1933, in Milan, to violinist and teacher Michelangelo Abbado and Maria Carmela Savagnone, he studied at the Milan Conservatory, the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, and later at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna under Hans Swarowsky.
Abbado began working at La Scala in 1968, becoming music director from 1971 to 1986. He led the London Symphony Orchestra as principal conductor from 1979 to 1988, then moved to the Vienna State Opera as music director from 1986 to 1991. His tenure as chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic from 1990 to 2002 was interrupted by stomach cancer, but he returned for guest appearances in 2004 and 2005. He conducted Mozart’s The Magic Flute in 2005. He also founded the European Union Youth Orchestra in 1978, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra in 1988, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in 1997, and the Mozart Orchestra in 2004.
Abbado married twice: first to Giovanna Cavazzoni from 1956 to 1968, with whom he had children Alessandra and Daniele; later to Gabriella Cantaluppi. He also had a son, Mikhael, born in 1991, with Russian violinist Viktoria Mullova. His brother Marcello Abbado was a composer, and his nephew Roberto Abbado is also a conductor. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2000 and underwent surgery to remove part of his digestive system.
Abbado revitalized the opera and orchestral traditions at La Scala and the Berlin Philharmonic. He nurtured young talent through his founding of youth orchestras, including the European Union Youth Orchestra in 1978. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano appointed him Senator for Life in 2013. His awards include the Praemium Imperiale in 2003, the Wolf Prize in 2008, and multiple Gramophone Awards. Abbado’s extensive discography, especially his cycles of Beethoven and Mahler symphonies recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, continues to influence conductors and audiences worldwide.
The complete filmography of Claudio Abbado — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Claudio Abbado — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Claudio Abbado — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
I Never Made Politics. Unless You Consider Culture as Politics: I Think We Must Sustain Modernity. And, Simply, I Tried to Open the Doors of the Theaters to Anyone, Not Only in Milan. We Cut the Prices for the Students, Then I Conducted La Scala Orchestra in the Factories. and in Reggio Emilia, at the Musica E Realtà Festival, We Arranged Meeting Opened to Anyone During the Performance. There Was People That Not Only, Never Listened to the Music of Luigi Nono Before, but Neither the Music of Beethoven.
Musical History Does Not End with Puccini.
I Like the Reaction of the Audience. I’m Not Sincere If I Don’t Say That, but It Still Embarrasses Me to Take Bows. I’m Not a Showman. I Hate All That.
Little-known facts about Claudio Abbado — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Abbado held the position of music director at the Vienna State Opera from 1986 to 1991.
He recorded all of Beethoven’s overtures with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Born in Italy, Abbado held tenures at La Scala 1971-1986, the Vienna Philharmonic from 1971, the Vienna State Opera 1986-1991, the London Symphony Orchestra 1979-1987, and the Berlin Philharmonic 1989-2002, and again from 2004.
Abbado fathered a son, Mikhael, born in 1991, with Russian violinist Viktoria Mullova, who was 30 years his junior. They lived together in London and Vienna for five years before he left her when she was seven months pregnant; he continued to pay child support.
Abbado was music director of La Scala in Milan from 1968 to 1986.
He recorded an extensive discography, particularly his cycles of Beethoven and Mahler symphonies recorded twice each for Deutsche Grammophon. He also interpreted composers like Mendelssohn, Schubert, Brahms, and Bruckner. Early in his career, he focused on contemporary music and opera, including works by Hindemith, Schoenberg, Prokofiev, Verdi, and Rossini.
In 2000, Abbado was diagnosed with stomach cancer and underwent surgery to remove part of his digestive system.
He had a son, Mikhael, born in 1991, with Russian violinist Viktoria Mullova.
Abbado’s brother, Marcello Abbado, was a composer.
During World War II, as a child, Abbado wrote Viva Bartok on a wall; authorities mistook Bartok for an anti-Fascist activist and visited his home. He showed them a musical score, and they left.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Claudio Abbado.
Celebrities similar to Claudio Abbado — same craft, ranked by reach.
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