Claudio Abbado was one of the most esteemed conductors of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, renowned for both his insightful interpretations and his work with leading orchestras around the globe. Born in Milan, Italy, on June 26, 1933, Abbado demonstrated a keen aptitude for music from a young age. He studied at the Milan Conservatory before honing his craft under Hans Swarowsky at the Vienna Academy of Music. His professional ascent was marked by numerous accolades, including winning the Koussevitzky Competition at Tanglewood in 1958, which helped launch his international career.

Over the ensuing decades, Abbado held prestigious posts, including serving as the principal conductor of the Vienna State Opera, the music director of La Scala in Milan, and as the chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, succeeding Herbert von Karajan. His legacy includes numerous recordings across a vast range of repertory, highlighting his versatility and depth of musical understanding. Abbado was particularly noted for his interpretations of opera and the works of composers such as Mahler, Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Verdi, among others. He passed away on January 20, 2014, leaving behind a substantial discography and a reputation as a transformative figure in the classical music world.

Genres

Classical

Classical Performance

Orchestral Performance

Related Artists

Herbert von Karajan

Leonard Bernstein

Daniel Barenboim

Riccardo Muti

Zubin Mehta

Sir Simon Rattle

Seiji Ozawa

Carlos Kleiber

James Levine

Sir Georg Solti

Lorin Maazel

Pierre Boulez

Latest Release

Abbado: Baroque & Beyond

Claudio Abbado•

Ludwig van Beethoven•

Antonio Vivaldi•

Robert Schumann•

Franz Schubert•

Anton Webern•

Sergei Prokofiev•

Modest Mussorgsky

Album - 85 Tracks - Released October 21, 2024