Music world pays tribute to maestro Claudio Abbado

Claudio Abbado, a star in the great generation of Italian conductors who was revered by musicians in the world’s leading orchestras for developing a strong rapport with them while still allowing them their independence, has died at the age of 80.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Jan 2014, 16:57 BST

Raffaela Grimaudo, spokeswoman for the Bologna mayor’s office, said Abbado died yesterday morning.

Abbado made his debut in 1960 at La Scala in his home city of 
Milan and went on to be its 
musical director for nearly 20 years.

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Among his many other stints were as musical director of the Vienna State Opera, the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra and chief guest conductor of the Chicago Philharmonic.

Even as he battled illness in his later years, Abbado founded his own all-star orchestra in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Abbado was known for his musical ability, for conducting his programmes without scores and for his rapport with orchestra members.

He had suffered health problems for many years, resigning from his Vienna Opera role for unspecified health reasons in 1991 and then undergoing stomach cancer surgery in 2000.

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La Scala said illness forced the cancellation of two highly anticipated concerts in 2010 which were to have marked his return to the Milan opera house for the first time in 25 years and be the 50th anniversary of his conducting debut.

Abbado was born on June 26 1933 into a family of musicians, studying with his violinist father Michelangelo Abbado at the Milan Conservatory. He also studied composition and conducting and took cello and organ courses. He went on to study conducting in Vienna and in 1958 won the Koussevitsky Competition, bringing him to the attention of the Italian musical world.

Critics said Abbado had a special touch with orchestra members, giving them a degree of independence which assured their loyalty.

Radio 3 controller and director of the BBC Proms Roger Wright was among those who paid tribute. He said: “The death of Claudio Abbado leaves a huge hole in the world of classical music. He was one of the most important conductors of his generation and leaves an enormous legacy of operatic and orchestral events.

“He conducted at the BBC Proms over a 40-year period and his last appearance there in 2007 was an unforgettable performance of Mahler’s 3rd Symphony.”