born June 26, 1933, Milan, Italy
Italian conductor.
Abbado studied piano, composition, and conducting at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory before beginning to conduct in Vienna. He was long associated with Milan's La Scala (1968–86), as principal conductor and ultimately as artistic director, as well as with the Vienna Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. In 1989 he succeeded Herbert von Karajan as permanent conductor and artistic director of the Berlin Philharmonic. He is known for his commitment to adventurous programming, including much modern music.