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Antonio Pappano

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Sir Antonio Pappano is a British-Italian conductor and pianist, born on 30 December 1959 in Epping, Essex. His family came from Castelfranco in Miscano in Italy, and his father was a singing teacher. When he was thirteen the family moved to Connecticut. After training in piano, composition and conducting he became a répétiteur at the New York City Opera at the age of twenty-one. Daniel Barenboim noticed his talent and made him an assistant at the Bayreuth Festival.

Music and breakthrough

In 1990 Pappano became music director of the Norwegian Opera, and from 1992 to 2002 of the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels. From 2002 to 2024 he led the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, longer than anyone before him. From 2005 to 2024 he was also in charge of the orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Since 2024 he has been chief conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. In 2023 he conducted the orchestra at the coronation of Charles III. His recordings include La bohème in 1996, La rondine in 1997, Il trittico in 1999 and Manon in 2000.

Influence

He received Gramophone Artist of the Year in 2000, was knighted in 2012 and in 2024 won the Olivier Award for opera once again. Pappano shows how a conductor, through his work with singers and a large orchestra, can keep the opera audience young and broad.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a recording of La bohème under Pappano and notice how the orchestra follows the singers. Try to hear how the tempo moves with the emotion of the scene.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists