Italian conductor Claudio Abbado dies aged 80
Leading conductor Claudio Abbado, who was director at La Scala for 20 years, dies aged 80
Claudio Abbado, who decided to become a conductor after hearing a concert at La Scala at the age of eight and went on to lead the Milan opera company and top orchestras for more than half a century, has died aged 80.
Abbado, who was known as a musician's musician, shunned the publicity and pomp often associated with top conductors and supported young musicians.
He died in the northern city of Bologna in his native Italy after a long illness.
He was a truly charismatic conductor. His concerts were breathtaking
Lennox Mackenzie, a violinist and orchestra chairman of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), where Abbado was principal conductor from 1979-1988, said: "He was a truly charismatic conductor. His concerts were breathtaking occasions for the audience and players alike."
In addition to serving as music director of La Scala for two decades, Abbado led the Vienna State Opera, the Berlin Philharmonic and made guest appearances throughout the world.
Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said: "The world of music and culture has lost an absolute champion."
Abbado's surprise appointment as chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic in 1989 led critics to call him "the world's most powerful conductor".
He also had a 46-year span recording some of the world's most cherished performances for the Deutsche Grammophon label.
