Claudio Abbado

Claudio Abbado (b. 1933) is arguably the greatest Italian conductor of the twentieth century after Toscanini and he still records and performs today despite serious surgery in 2000. Abbado's first significant performance as conductor was at La Scala in 1960 of which he became the music director from 1968 to 1986. In 1979 he became the Principal Condctor of the London Symphony Orchestra after André Previn and held the position until 1987. In 1989 Abbado succeeded Herbert von Karajan as Principal Conductor, a post he held until 2002 when ill health forced him to step down. In 2003 he formed the Lucerne Festival Orchestra which has received great acclaim.

Abbado's repertoire is vast and he is keen to programme and record the 20th century avant-garde as he is the staple core repertoire. His founding of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester in 1986 also highlights his commitment to the development of musicians.

Key Works: Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 4, Debussy: La mer, Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 1 -9 , Mussorgsky: Night on the Bare Mountain, Pictures at an Exhibition, Boris Godunov, Khovanshchina, Rossini: Il viaggio a Reims, Stockhausen: Gruppen, Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4, Verdi: Falstaff, Macbeth, Simon Boccanegra

Key Artists: Martha Argerich, Nathan Milstein, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, European Youth Orchestra, Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, London Symphony Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Orchestra