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Roberto Abbado


Conductor

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Acclaimed as a compelling, sophisticated and energetic force on the podium, Italian conductor Roberto Abbado is in high demand for orchestral engagements. His crisp, dramatic music making, instinctive lyricism and evocative command of varied, composers and styles have allowed him to expand his relationships, especially with such orchestras as the Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Houston Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra, to name a few.

Following summer performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Montreal Symphony, Maestro Abbado's 2002-2003 season exemplifies his growing popularity with American audiences, as he appears with twelve renowned orchestras across the United States in subscription series. The season begins in mid-September with Maestro Abbado's debut with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, followed by a two-week re-engagement with the Minnesota Orchestra in late September/early October 2002. In October he performs with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and then returns to the Boston Symphony Orchestra to conduct two different programs, followed by a week with the Houston Symphony. In early January 2003, Maestro Abbado conducts the National Symphony in a two-week subscription series, followed by debut performances with the Pittsburgh Symphony and engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. March brings performances with the Detroit Symphony and Mr. Abbado's debut with the New World Symphony (FL), followed by two subscription weeks with the Philadelphia Orchestra in late March/early April, including March 31 at Washington, DC's Kennedy Center and April 7 at Carnegie Hall. In April he conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in two separate programs. Internationally, Maestro Abbado leads the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in a special concert on December 6, 2002, and conducts the Orchestra Sinfonica dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia in February 2003. He returns to Canada in early May 2003 to lead the Montreal Symphony and then travels to England to conduct the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in a return engagement following last season's acclaimed debut.

On the international stage, Maestro Abbado counts among his credits many of the finest orchestras abroad, including the Orchestre National de France, Hamburg NDR Symphony Orchestra, Bamberger Symphoniker, Sachsische Staatskapelle Dresden, the Budapest Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Orchestra, Gotenburg Symphony, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, Orchestra Sinfonica dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, among others.

Equally established in the operatic arena, where he has conducted many new productions and world premieres, Maestro Abbado's operatic credits include the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, 11 Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Vienna Staatsoper, Paris's Bastille, Zurich Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper and Deutsche Oper Berlin.

Having recorded for BMG (RCA Red Seal), Roberto Abbado's CDs include I Capuleti e i Montecchi, a BBC Magazine "Pick of the Year 1999" and Tancredi, a Deutsche Phono Akademie Echo Klassic Deutscher Schallplattenpreis for 1997 Best Opera Production of the Year. Additional BMG releases include Don Pasquale with Renato Bruson, Eva Mei, Frank Leopardo and Thomas Allen; Turandot with Eva Marton, Ben Heppner and Margaret Price; and a CD of ballet music from Verdi operas. He has also recorded the two Liszt Piano Concerti with soloist Gerhard Oppitz; a collection of great tenor arias with Ben Heppner and a CD of opera scenes with Carol Vaness, both with the Miinchner Rundfunkorchester. For Decca, he has recorded Verismo Arias with Mirella Freni.
Maestro Abbado studied conducting with Franco Ferrara at La Fenice and at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, where he was honored to be the only student in the Academy's history to be invited to conduct the Orchestra di Santa Cecilia. From 1991-1998, Maestro Abbado served as Chief Conductor of the Munchner Rundfunkorchester, recording seven CDs with the Orchestra during his tenure. In 1991, he made his North American concert debut at New York's Lincoln Center with the Orchestra of St. Luke's.