Claudio Abbado (born June 26, 1933) is an Italian conductor.

Abbado was born in Milan. He studied piano at the Milan Conservatory with his father Michelangelo Abbado, and went on to study conducting with Hans Swarowsky at the Vienna Academy of Music.

In 1958, he won the Koussevitsky Competition, establishing him in Italy, and then won the 1963 Mitropoulos Prize, after which he rapidly became known internationally as an orchestral and opera conductor.

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NPR Topics: Classical Music

Mozart's 'Don Giovanni'
Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:25:00 -0500
Many have called Don Giovanni the finest opera ever composed. Mozart's classic is a brilliant combination of stark human tragedy and touching comedy, set to music of limitless genius. It's heard in a new production from Houston Grand Opera.
Edward Elgar's Post-War Concerto of Conviction
Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:40:00 -0500
After WWI, the British were lamenting a lost era and eager for something new. Edward Elgar gave them a meditative, compelling cello concerto. Steven Isserlis plays Elgar's autumnal music in concert with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
Hopper Paintings Get Musical Portrayal in 'Hoppera'
Sun, 28 Oct 2007 08:00:00 -0500
Painter Edward Hopper's images of urban America have become iconic, and have made him one of this country's most popular artists. The University of Maryland has commissioned an opera based on five of Hopper's paintings. "Later the Same Evening," or the "Hoppera," as the work is informally called, premieres Nov. 15.
Verdi's 'Simon Boccanegra'
Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The title character in Simon Boccanegra is among the most complex and poignant that Verdi ever created, and the opera is among his most beautiful. In this production from Houston, Boccanegra is played by the renowned baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky.
Musical Mayhem: Top 5 Creepy Halloween Classics
Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:56:00 -0500
From the ancient "Day of the Dead" melody to depictions of ghouls and witches, composers have long tapped into the dark side to serve up some deliciously devilish music. Halloween is the perfect time to observe a few creepy classics.
Putting the Squeeze on a Musical Nightmare
Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0500
This week's From the Top comes from New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall in Boston, where 18-year-old Samuel Thomas unpacks his accordion to play 'Chopin's Nightmare.' Eleven-year-old violinist Mindy Chen plays a romance by Sarasate, and a talented teen quintet takes on Dvorak. Also, a young cellist chooses Elgar, and a 14-year-old pianist plays Prokofiev.

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