Roberto Abbado In-depth Biography
This celebrated conductor has been praised for his sophisticated, clear, and compelling approach to a wide range of lyric and dramatic styles and composers. Abbado} was born into a family of Italian musicians extending back more than three generations. He undertook his conducting studies with Franco Ferrara} at La Fenice}, Venice, and also at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. He was the only student in the history of the academy to be asked to conduct the Orchestra di Santa Cecilia}. At the age of 23, he directed his first opera}, Simon Boccanegra}. During the next six years, he appeared at La Scala} in Milan, the Vienna State Opera}, La Fenice}, Zurich Opera}, Deutsche Oper Berlin}, and in the opera} houses of Florence, Rome, and Bologna. Since then, Abbado} has premiered many contemporary operas} and led opera} revivals.
From 1991 - 1998, Abbado} was the chief conductor of the Münchner Rundfunkorchester (Radio Orchestra of Munich)}, and in 1991 he made his North American debut conducting the Orchestra of St. Luke's} at Lincoln Center} in New York City. In 1994, his debut at the Metropolitan Opera} was an immediate sensation. He went on to lead many American orchestras, including the Boston Symphony}, Philadelphia Orchestra}, New York Philharmonic}, Chicago Symphony}, Los Angeles Philharmonic}, Seattle Symphony}, Houston Symphony}, Minnesota Orchestra}, and the San Francisco Symphony} in 1999, conducting Bloch}'s Schelomo} and Rossini}'s Stabat Mater}. He has also appeared at Carnegie Hall}, the Paris Opéra Bastille}, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw}, the Suntory Hall} in Tokyo, and has made guest appearances with the Orchestre National de France}, Hamburg NDR Symphony Orchestra}, Bamberger Symphonikern}, Dresden Sächsischen Staatskapelle}, the Budapest Philharmonic}, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic}, Swedish Radio Orchestra}, Göthenburg Symphony}, Sydney Symphony Orchestra}, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI}, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia}, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino}, and others.
In the 2001-2002 season, Abbado} conducted a new production of Verdi}'s Attila}, debuted with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra}, and had engagements with the Minnesota Orchestra}, Philadelphia Orchestra}, Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia}, Houston Symphony}, Seattle Symphony}, and the Hamburg NDR Symphony Orchestra}. Abbado}'s recording of Tancredi} received the 1997 Deutscher Schallplattenpreis (German Record Prize) as Best Opera Production of the Year. ~ "Blue Gene" Tyranny, All Music Guide