Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor Laureate of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Music Director of the Royal Opera (2002-2024).
A pianist, harpsichordist, and conductor of Italian origin. Born in Epping, Essex. He studied music and voice privately in England, and later in Connecticut, where his family moved at the time. He worked as a répétiteur and assistant conductor at New York City Opera, the Liceu (Barcelona), and Chicago Opera.
From 1985, he was Daniel Barenboim's assistant at the Bayreuth Festival. He made his conducting debut in 1987 at the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet ('La bohème' by G. Puccini), becoming its music director in 1990. In 1990, he made his conducting debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden ('La bohème').
He has conducted opera productions at English National Opera, San Francisco Opera, Théâtre du Châtelet, Berlin State Opera, Vienna State Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera. From 1992 to 2002, he was music director of La Monnaie in Brussels; from 1997 to 1999, principal guest conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2002, he became Music Director of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the youngest conductor ever appointed to that position. In 2005, he also became principal conductor of the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. He regularly appears as a guest conductor with the London Symphony Orchestra.
In 2012, he was knighted. He is a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, and the recipient of numerous awards, including a Grammy, the Laurence Olivier Award, the Musical Award, and the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society.
A pianist, harpsichordist, and conductor of Italian origin. Born in Epping, Essex. He studied music and voice privately in England, and later in Connecticut, where his family moved at the time. He worked as a répétiteur and assistant conductor at New York City Opera, the Liceu (Barcelona), and Chicago Opera.
From 1985, he was Daniel Barenboim's assistant at the Bayreuth Festival. He made his conducting debut in 1987 at the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet ('La bohème' by G. Puccini), becoming its music director in 1990. In 1990, he made his conducting debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden ('La bohème').
He has conducted opera productions at English National Opera, San Francisco Opera, Théâtre du Châtelet, Berlin State Opera, Vienna State Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera. From 1992 to 2002, he was music director of La Monnaie in Brussels; from 1997 to 1999, principal guest conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2002, he became Music Director of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the youngest conductor ever appointed to that position. In 2005, he also became principal conductor of the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. He regularly appears as a guest conductor with the London Symphony Orchestra.
In 2012, he was knighted. He is a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, and the recipient of numerous awards, including a Grammy, the Laurence Olivier Award, the Musical Award, and the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society.
