95-1100: Riccardo Muti ( Italian: [rikˈkardo ˈmuːti] ; born 28 July 1941) is an Italian conductor. He is current music director of the Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini . Muti has previously held posts at the Maggio Musicale in Florence, the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the Philadelphia Orchestra , the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Salzburg Whitsun Festival , and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra . He
190-629: A clearer, lighter sound, which would later come to be known as "typically Viennese". Singers who worked with Krips during this time were Erich Kunz , Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Wilma Lipp , among others. As early as 1947, the Mozart-Ensemble was playing guest performances at the Royal Opera House in London, with Mozart's Don Giovanni . Richard Tauber , who had fled from the Nazis, sang Don Ottavio ; three months later he died, and
285-578: A frequent conductor of operas and concerts at the Salzburg Festival , where he is particularly known for his Mozart opera performances. From 1972 Muti regularly conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra in London and in 1973 he was appointed its principal conductor, succeeding Otto Klemperer . In 1979, Muti became the music director and principal conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1986, he became principal conductor of
380-463: A new production of Verdi 's Macbeth , which was directed by Peter Stein . For the 2017 Salzburg Festival, he conducted Aida, directed by Shirin Neshat . Muti also owns a residence close to Salzburg. From 2007 to 2011, Muti was the artistic director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival . He conducted productions of rare Italian operas from the 18th century Neapolitan School as well as concerts, with
475-409: A new production of Verdi 's Macbeth , which was directed by Peter Stein . For the 2017 Salzburg Festival, he conducted Aida, directed by Shirin Neshat . Muti also owns a residence close to Salzburg. From 2007 to 2011, Muti was the artistic director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival . He conducted productions of rare Italian operas from the 18th century Neapolitan School as well as concerts, with
570-463: A new wave of operatic excitement to the many tourists and locals who experienced this cultural event. During daytime the screen displays a replica of the Opera House's façade, as it obstructs a considerable part of the building, along with information about upcoming performances. The Vienna State Opera is particularly open to children: under Holender's direction (he has three children of his own),
665-572: A reduced schedule of the classic ballets. 2009 marked the 140th anniversary of the Vienna Opera House. To celebrate this milestone an idea designed to reach out and embrace a new audience was conceived. A giant 50 sqm screen was placed on the side of the opera house facing Kärntner Straße . In four months live broadcasts of over 60 famous operas were transmitted in this way, including performances of Madama Butterfly , The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni . This successful venture brought
760-612: A regular and popular guest conductor with the New York Philharmonic . The orchestra's musicians had reportedly been interested – towards the end of the tenures of Kurt Masur and Lorin Maazel , and before Muti took the Chicago post – in having the conductor as their music director, but Muti stated that he had no wish to take on the position. Muti had first guest-conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) in 1973 at
855-430: A regular and popular guest conductor with the New York Philharmonic . The orchestra's musicians had reportedly been interested – towards the end of the tenures of Kurt Masur and Lorin Maazel , and before Muti took the Chicago post – in having the conductor as their music director, but Muti stated that he had no wish to take on the position. Muti had first guest-conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) in 1973 at
950-669: A reserved and severe Neapolitan woman with five children. Muti graduated from Liceo classico (Classical Lyceum) Vittorio Emanuele II in Naples, then studied piano at the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella under Vincenzo Vitale; here Muti was awarded a diploma cum laude. He was subsequently awarded a diploma in Composition and Conducting by the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory , Milan, where he studied with
1045-401: A series of scheduled performances of Verdi 's opera Nabucco , conducted by Muti. After the end of the chorus " Va, pensiero ", which contains the lyrics "Oh mia patria, sì bella e perduta" ("Oh my country, so beautiful and so lost"), the audience applauded "heartily." Muti, breaking with opera protocol and the strict conventions of composer Verdi himself, turned to the audience and delivered
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#17327880248371140-509: A small speech, referring to the severe budget cuts announced by the Berlusconi government which would particularly affect the funding of the arts. He spoke of the need to keep culture alive in Italy, prompted, as he later stated, by the belief that "killing culture in a country like Italy is a crime against society. Culture is the spiritual glue that holds a people together." He then invited
1235-443: A small speech, referring to the severe budget cuts announced by the Berlusconi government which would particularly affect the funding of the arts. He spoke of the need to keep culture alive in Italy, prompted, as he later stated, by the belief that "killing culture in a country like Italy is a crime against society. Culture is the spiritual glue that holds a people together." He then invited the audience to participate in an encore of
1330-521: A stage designer who replaced the lavish historical stage decors with sparse stage scenery corresponding to modernistic, Jugendstil tastes. Mahler also introduced the practice of dimming the lighting in the theatre during performances, which was initially not appreciated by the audience. However, Mahler's reforms were maintained by his successors. Herbert von Karajan introduced the practice of performing operas exclusively in their original language instead of being translated into German. He also strengthened
1425-564: A time when there were only c. 800 televiewers in the whole of Austria. The new auditorium had a reduced capacity of about 2,276, including 567 standing room places. The ensemble, which had remained unified until the opening, crumbled in the following years, and slowly an international ensemble formed. In 1945, the Wiener Mozart-Ensemble was formed, which put on guest performances and became known particularly for its singing and playing culture. The Austrian conductor Josef Krips
1520-631: Is a historic opera house and opera company based in Vienna , Austria. The 1,709-seat Renaissance Revival venue was the first major building on the Vienna Ring Road . It was built from 1861 to 1869 following plans by August Sicard von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll , and designs by Josef Hlávka . The opera house was inaugurated as the "Vienna Court Opera" ( Wiener Hofoper ) in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth of Austria . It became known by its current name after
1615-527: Is a production of The Magic Flute every year for 9- and 10-year-olds, decorated like the Opernball . The opera house also has an opera school for boys and girls between the ages of eight and fourteen, which takes place in the afternoons after regular school. The children are introduced to music theatre and the prospect of becoming opera singers. The company recruits singers for children's roles in its productions from this opera school. Twice every season there
1710-426: Is a special matinée performance of the opera school. In 2006, the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, they performed a 20-minute miniature opera Der kleine Friedrich arranged from songs of Mozart by Janko Kastelic and Claudia Toman. Eighty minutes before each performance, cheap standing room tickets are sold ( € 10 ). These are popular with all age groups, and now have an almost legendary regular clientele, which
1805-536: Is an online version parallel to the publication, which receives (as of March 2007) an average of 10,000 visitors a week, and therefore is one of the most successful German-language opera portals. For many decades, the opera house has been the venue of the Vienna Opera Ball . It is an event, which takes place annually on the last Thursday in Fasching . Those in attendance often include visitors from around
1900-416: Is considered one of the world's greatest conductors of the operas of Verdi . He also led a series of annual performances of opera in concerts including the works of Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and Wagner . In 1992, Muti conducted performances of Leoncavallo 's Pagliacci with Luciano Pavarotti . A recording was also made of these performances. At La Scala, Muti was noted for exploring lesser-known works of
1995-489: Is merciless in showing its displeasure with a performance loudly and unambiguously, but is even louder in voicing approval. Every performance at the Vienna State Opera is reviewed by an independent company in the opera publication Der Neue Merker ( The New Judge ) which is printed in about 2000 copies. This is unusual in that most opera magazines prefer to concentrate on new productions and premieres. There
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#17327880248372090-718: Is scheduled to lead it for the 7th occasion in 2025). Apart from his work at Milan's Teatro alla Scala , where he was music director for 19 years, Muti has led operatic performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra and productions in the principal opera houses of Rome (from 1969), Ravenna, Vienna, London (from 1977), Munich (from 1979), and, finally, in 2010, New York. His work with the Vienna State Opera has included Aida in 1973, La forza del destino in 1974, Norma in 1977, Rigoletto in 1983, Così fan tutte in 1996 and 2008, Don Giovanni in 1999, and The Marriage of Figaro in 2001. Muti first conducted at
2185-593: The Staatsoper was 100 million euros with slightly more than 50% as a state subsidy. The company's 2019 production of Olga Neuwirth 's opera Orlando marked the first production of an opera by a female composer in the history of the Vienna State Opera. Gustav Mahler was one of the many conductors who have worked in Vienna. During his tenure (1897–1907), Mahler cultivated a new generation of singers, such as Anna Bahr-Mildenburg and Selma Kurz , and recruited
2280-471: The Classical - and early Romantic-era repertory such as Lodoiska by Cherubini and La vestale by Spontini . Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini Riccardo Muti ( Italian: [rikˈkardo ˈmuːti] ; born 28 July 1941) is an Italian conductor. He is current music director of the Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini . Muti has previously held posts at the Maggio Musicale in Florence,
2375-515: The Filarmonica della Scala , Milan, with which in 1988 he received the Viotti d'Oro and toured Europe. In 1989 he conducted a live performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni that was recorded on a DVD. In 1991, after twelve years as music director, he announced his resignation from the Philadelphia Orchestra , effective at the end of the 1991–1992 season. In 1995 he was the president of the jury of
2470-779: The International Composing Competition "2 Agosto" . Muti has been a regular guest of the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic . In 1996, he conducted the Vienna Philharmonic during Vienna Festival Week and on tour to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Germany; he most recently toured with the Vienna Philharmonic to Japan in 2008. Muti has also led the orchestra's Vienna New Year's Concert on six occasions to date: in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2018 and 2021 (and
2565-416: The Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the Philadelphia Orchestra , the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Salzburg Whitsun Festival , and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra . He was named Music Director Emeritus in Chicago in 2023. A prolific recording artist , Muti has received numerous honours and awards , including two Grammy Awards . He is especially associated with the music of Giuseppe Verdi . Among
2660-703: The Ravenna Festival . They have two sons, Domenico and Francesco, and a daughter, Chiara, who is married to the pianist David Fray . In 2010, Muti wrote an autobiography. The following year, it was translated and published in English as Riccardo Muti: An Autobiography: First the Music, Then the Words . Music critic John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune described Muti's memoir as "fascinating." With
2755-597: The Ravinia Festival but did not return as a guest conductor with the CSO until 2007. Deborah Rutter , then president of the CSO saw him in Paris and persuaded him to come guest conduct and tour; he explained later, he thought he was too tired to start a "new adventure", but "immediately it was something that happened between me and the orchestra." In May 2008, the CSO named Muti its next music director, effective with
2850-428: The Ravinia Festival but did not return as a guest conductor with the CSO until 2007. Deborah Rutter , then president of the CSO saw him in Paris and persuaded him to come guest conduct and tour; he explained later, he thought he was too tired to start a "new adventure", but "immediately it was something that happened between me and the orchestra." In May 2008, the CSO named Muti its next music director, effective with
2945-1031: The Salzburg Festival in 1971 with Donizetti 's Don Pasquale (staged by Ladislav Stros). Muti has subsequently appeared regularly at the Salzburg Festival, conducting both numerous concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and opera productions, such as Così fan tutte (staged by Michael Hampe ) from 1982 to 1985 and from 1990 to 1991, La clemenza di Tito (staged by Peter Brenner) in 1988 and 1989, Don Giovanni (staged by Michael Hampe) in 1990 and 1991, La traviata (staged by Lluis Pasqual, and designed by Luciano Damiani ) in 1995, Die Zauberflöte in 2005 (staged by Graham Vick ) and 2006 (staged by Pierre Audi, stage designed by Karel Appel ), Otello (staged by Stephen Langridge) in 2008, Moise et Pharaon (staged by Jürgen Flimm ) in 2009, and Orfeo ed Euridice (staged by Dieter Dorn ) in 2010. In 2011, Muti conducted
Riccardo Muti - Misplaced Pages Continue
3040-521: The Teatro dell'Opera di Roma , effective December 2010, but the news given by the mayor (and therefore president of Opera di Roma) Gianni Alemanno was not true. Alemanno, instead, announced in October 2011 that Muti accepted an invitation by the Orchestra of Opera di Roma to become a "lifetime conductor" of Opera di Roma. On the night of 12 March 2011, Rome 's Teatro dell'Opera staged the first in
3135-401: The Vienna State Opera has included Aida in 1973, La forza del destino in 1974, Norma in 1977, Rigoletto in 1983, Così fan tutte in 1996 and 2008, Don Giovanni in 1999, and The Marriage of Figaro in 2001. Muti first conducted at the Salzburg Festival in 1971 with Donizetti 's Don Pasquale (staged by Ladislav Stros). Muti has subsequently appeared regularly at
3230-456: The ensemble and regular principal singers and introduced the policy of predominantly engaging guest singers. He began a collaboration with La Scala in Milan, in which both productions and orchestrations were shared. This created an opening for the prominent members of the Viennese ensemble to appear in Milan, especially to perform works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Richard Strauss . At
3325-513: The "Va, pensiero" chorus – the invitation and the encore also a break from tradition for an opera performance. The opera audience stood up and sang along with the on-stage chorus. Muti recalls that "80 percent of the audience knew the lyrics" and sang along, while "some members of the chorus were in tears." On 18 March, the performance of Nabucco was repeated in front of the former Italian president Giorgio Napolitano and former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi . Muti, who had stated that it had been
3420-400: The 2003–04 season. The appointment in 2003 of Mauro Meli as La Scala's artistic director was intended to calm the conflict between Fontana and Muti. On 24 February 2005, La Scala governors dismissed Fontana as general manager and named Meli as his successor. The musicians sided with Fontana against Muti at this point in the dispute, and on 13 March, Muti stated that he would refuse to conduct
3515-515: The 2003–04 season. The appointment in 2003 of Mauro Meli as La Scala's artistic director was intended to calm the conflict between Fontana and Muti. On 24 February 2005, La Scala governors dismissed Fontana as general manager and named Meli as his successor. The musicians sided with Fontana against Muti at this point in the dispute, and on 13 March, Muti stated that he would refuse to conduct the La Scala orchestra from that point on. On 16 March 2005,
3610-564: The 2010–2011 season a new company was formed called Wiener Staatsballet , Vienna State Ballet , under the direction of former Paris Opera Ballet principal dancer Manuel Legris . Legris eliminated Harangozós's policy of presenting nothing but traditional narrative ballets with guest artists in the leading roles, concentrated on establishing a strong in-house ensemble and restored evenings of mixed bill programs, featuring works of George Balanchine , Jerome Robbins , Jiří Kylián , William Forsythe , and many contemporary choreographers, as well as
3705-466: The 2010–2011 season, with an initial contract of five years. His most recent contract extension, announced in January 2018, is through the 2021–2022 season. In January 2020, the CSO confirmed that Muti is to conclude his music directorship of the orchestra at the close of the 2021–2022 season. In September 2021, the CSO announced a revision to Muti's contract as its music director, with an extension of
3800-409: The 2010–2011 season, with an initial contract of five years. His most recent contract extension, announced in January 2018, is through the 2021–2022 season. In January 2020, the CSO confirmed that Muti is to conclude his music directorship of the orchestra at the close of the 2021–2022 season. In September 2021, the CSO announced a revision to Muti's contract as its music director, with an extension of
3895-540: The Interior had commissioned a number of reports into the availability of certain building materials, with the result that stones long not seen in Vienna were used, such as Wöllersdorfer Stein, for plinths and free-standing, simply-divided buttresses, the famously hard stone from Kaisersteinbruch , whose colour was more appropriate than that of Kelheimerstein , for more lushly decorated parts. The somewhat coarser-grained Kelheimerstein (also known as Solnhof Plattenstein)
Riccardo Muti - Misplaced Pages Continue
3990-432: The La Scala orchestra from that point on. On 16 March 2005, the orchestra and staff of La Scala voted overwhelmingly against Muti in a motion of no-confidence. Muti was forced to cancel a concert prior to the vote, and some other productions were disrupted at the theatre because of continuing rifts with Fontana's supporters. On 2 April, he resigned from La Scala, citing "hostility" from staff members. In August 2009, Muti
4085-649: The Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra, which he had founded. In July 2015, Riccardo Muti's desire to devote even more to the training of young musicians was realised: the first edition of the Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy for young conductors, répétiteurs and singers took place with great acclaim at Teatro Alighieri in Ravenna and talented young musicians, as well as an audience of music-lovers from around
4180-415: The Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra, which he had founded. In July 2015, Riccardo Muti's desire to devote even more to the training of young musicians was realised: the first edition of the Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy for young conductors, répétiteurs and singers took place with great acclaim at Teatro Alighieri in Ravenna and talented young musicians, as well as an audience of music-lovers from around
4275-406: The Philadelphia Orchestra, his recordings include a Beethoven symphony cycle, the symphonies of Brahms and Scriabin , selected works of Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev , as well as less-known works of composers such as Puccini and Busoni . Muti is considered one of the world's greatest conductors of the operas of Verdi . He also led a series of annual performances of opera in concerts including
4370-738: The Salzburg Festival, conducting both numerous concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and opera productions, such as Così fan tutte (staged by Michael Hampe ) from 1982 to 1985 and from 1990 to 1991, La clemenza di Tito (staged by Peter Brenner) in 1988 and 1989, Don Giovanni (staged by Michael Hampe) in 1990 and 1991, La traviata (staged by Lluis Pasqual, and designed by Luciano Damiani ) in 1995, Die Zauberflöte in 2005 (staged by Graham Vick ) and 2006 (staged by Pierre Audi, stage designed by Karel Appel ), Otello (staged by Stephen Langridge) in 2008, Moise et Pharaon (staged by Jürgen Flimm ) in 2009, and Orfeo ed Euridice (staged by Dieter Dorn ) in 2010. In 2011, Muti conducted
4465-469: The Volksoper, had moved rehearsals and performances to Theater an der Wien , where, on 1 May 1945, after the liberation and re-independence of Austria from the Nazis, the first performances were given. In 1947, the company went on tour to London. Due to the appalling conditions at Theater an der Wien, the opera company leadership tried to raise significant quantities of money to speed up reconstruction of
4560-647: The annual Vienna Opera Ball during the carnival season. The opera house was the first major building on the Vienna Ringstrasse commissioned by the Viennese "city expansion fund". Work commenced on the house in 1861 and was completed in 1869, following plans drawn up by architects August Sicard von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll . It was built in the Neo-Renaissance style by the Czech architect and contractor Josef Hlávka . The Ministry of
4655-401: The audience to participate in an encore of the "Va, pensiero" chorus – the invitation and the encore also a break from tradition for an opera performance. The opera audience stood up and sang along with the on-stage chorus. Muti recalls that "80 percent of the audience knew the lyrics" and sang along, while "some members of the chorus were in tears." On 18 March, the performance of Nabucco
4750-594: The beginning of the 2005–2006 season, the ballet companies of the Staatsoper and the Vienna Volksoper were merged under the direction of Gyula Harangozó, which led to a reduction in the number of performers in the resulting ensemble. This has resulted in an increase in the number of guest stars engaged to work in the ballet. The practice of combining the two ballet companies proved an artistic failure, and Harangozó left when his contract expired in 2010. From
4845-506: The composer Bruno Bettinelli and the conductor Antonino Votto . He has also studied composition with Nino Rota , whom he considers a mentor. He was unanimously awarded first place by the jury of the " Guido Cantelli Competition for Conductors " in Milan in 1967 and became, the next year, principal conductor and music director of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino , a post he held for eleven years. Since 1971 he has been
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#17327880248374940-423: The decision in 1946 to have a functioning opera house again by 1949. An architectural competition was announced, which was won by Erich Boltenstern. The submissions had ranged from a complete restructuring of the auditorium to a replica of the original design; Boltenstern decided on a design similar to the original with some modernisation in keeping with the design of the 1950s. In order to achieve good acoustics, wood
5035-439: The end of the 1991–1992 season. In 1995 he was the president of the jury of the International Composing Competition "2 Agosto" . Muti has been a regular guest of the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic . In 1996, he conducted the Vienna Philharmonic during Vienna Festival Week and on tour to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Germany; he most recently toured with the Vienna Philharmonic to Japan in 2008. Muti has also led
5130-624: The establishment of the First Austrian Republic in 1921. The Vienna State Opera is the successor of the old Vienna Court Opera (built in 1636 inside the Hofburg ). The new site was chosen and the construction paid by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1861. The members of the Vienna Philharmonic are recruited from the Vienna State Opera's orchestra. The building is also the home of the Vienna State Ballet , and it hosts
5225-415: The first in a series of scheduled performances of Verdi 's opera Nabucco , conducted by Muti. After the end of the chorus " Va, pensiero ", which contains the lyrics "Oh mia patria, sì bella e perduta" ("Oh my country, so beautiful and so lost"), the audience applauded "heartily." Muti, breaking with opera protocol and the strict conventions of composer Verdi himself, turned to the audience and delivered
5320-490: The first time in his life that he conducted chorus and audience together and also the last, on that occasion conducted the Verdi opera in the "orthodox" manner. Muti is married to Maria Cristina Mazzavillani, the founder and director of the Ravenna Festival . They have two sons, Domenico and Francesco, and a daughter, Chiara, who is married to the pianist David Fray . In 2010, Muti wrote an autobiography. The following year, it
5415-490: The long region of Apulia on Italy's southern Adriatic coast. His father, Domenico, was a pathologist in Molfetta, as well as an amateur singer and great music lover; his mother, Gilda, a reserved and severe Neapolitan woman with five children. Muti graduated from Liceo classico (Classical Lyceum) Vittorio Emanuele II in Naples, then studied piano at the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella under Vincenzo Vitale; here Muti
5510-555: The most important Maestri (conductors/music directors) of the Staatsoper. On 1 July 1998, a historical broadcast took place, as Austria undertook its first presidency of the European Union . Fidelio was broadcast live from the Vienna State Opera to the 15 capital cities of the EU. The Vienna State Opera is closely linked to the Vienna Philharmonic , which is an incorporated society of its own, but whose members are recruited from
5605-441: The music director and principal conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1986, he became principal conductor of the Filarmonica della Scala , Milan, with which in 1988 he received the Viotti d'Oro and toured Europe. In 1989 he conducted a live performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni that was recorded on a DVD. In 1991, after twelve years as music director, he announced his resignation from the Philadelphia Orchestra , effective at
5700-468: The next year, principal conductor and music director of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino , a post he held for eleven years. Since 1971 he has been a frequent conductor of operas and concerts at the Salzburg Festival , where he is particularly known for his Mozart opera performances. From 1972 Muti regularly conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra in London and in 1973 he was appointed its principal conductor, succeeding Otto Klemperer . In 1979, Muti became
5795-436: The opera house has become well known for its children's productions, which are performed in a tent on the roof of the Staatsoper. Recent examples include Peter Pan , Das Traumfresserchen [ de ] ( The Dream Gobbler ), Der 35. Mai ( The 35th of May ), C. F. E. Horneman 's Aladdin , Bastien und Bastienne and Wagners Nibelungenring für Kinder ( Wagner's Ring for children ). In addition to this, there
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#17327880248375890-424: The opera was set alight by an American bombardment. The auditorium and stage were destroyed by flames, as well as almost the entire décor and props for more than 120 operas with around 150,000 costumes. The front section, which had been walled off as a precaution, however, remained intact including the foyer , with frescoes by Moritz von Schwind , the main stairways, the vestibule and the tea room. The State Opera
5985-415: The orchestra and staff of La Scala voted overwhelmingly against Muti in a motion of no-confidence. Muti was forced to cancel a concert prior to the vote, and some other productions were disrupted at the theatre because of continuing rifts with Fontana's supporters. On 2 April, he resigned from La Scala, citing "hostility" from staff members. In August 2009, Muti was said to be named the next music director of
6080-404: The orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. The Wiener Staatsoper is one of the busiest opera houses in the world producing 50 to 60 operas in a repertory system per year and ten ballet productions in more than 350 performances. It is quite common to find a different opera being produced each day of a week. The Staatsoper employs over 1000 people. As of 2008, the annual operating budget of
6175-445: The orchestra remain controversial. Some felt he turned it into a generic-sounding institution with a lean sound much favoured by modern recording engineers. Others believe Muti uncovered the true intention of the works, which had been covered in a silky sheen by Muti's predecessor. Since his departure from Philadelphia, he has made very few guest conducting appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, most recently in 2005. Muti had been
6270-444: The orchestra remain controversial. Some felt he turned it into a generic-sounding institution with a lean sound much favoured by modern recording engineers. Others believe Muti uncovered the true intention of the works, which had been covered in a silky sheen by Muti's predecessor. Since his departure from Philadelphia, he has made very few guest conducting appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, most recently in 2005. Muti had been
6365-504: The orchestra's Vienna New Year's Concert on six occasions to date: in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2018 and 2021 (and is scheduled to lead it for the 7th occasion in 2025). Apart from his work at Milan's Teatro alla Scala , where he was music director for 19 years, Muti has led operatic performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra and productions in the principal opera houses of Rome (from 1969), Ravenna, Vienna, London (from 1977), Munich (from 1979), and, finally, in 2010, New York. His work with
6460-501: The original opera house. Many private donations were made, as well as donations of building material from the Soviets, who were very interested in the rebuilding of the opera. The mayor of Vienna had receptacles placed in many sites around Vienna for people to donate coins only. In this way, everyone in Vienna could say they had participated in the reconstruction and feel pride in considering themselves part owners. However, in 1949, there
6555-402: The past". In June 2023, it was announced that beginning in the 2024–2025 season Muti would be named Music Director Emeritus for life, and continue occasional performances. In 2003, there were reports of artistic and programming conflicts at La Scala between musical director and principal conductor Muti and general manager Carlo Fontana. Muti did not attend the press conference that announced
6650-399: The past". In June 2023, it was announced that beginning in the 2024–2025 season Muti would be named Music Director Emeritus for life, and continue occasional performances. In 2003, there were reports of artistic and programming conflicts at La Scala between musical director and principal conductor Muti and general manager Carlo Fontana. Muti did not attend the press conference that announced
6745-666: The public. On the one hand, it did not seem as grand as the Heinrichshof, a private residence which was destroyed in World War II (and replaced in 1955 by the Opernringhof). Moreover, because the level of Ringstraße was raised by a metre in front of the opera house after its construction had begun, the latter was likened to "a sunken treasure chest" and, in analogy to the military disaster of 1866 (the Battle of Königgrätz ),
6840-568: The safety curtain by means of magnets and are shown during the course of a season. Artists up to date: Pierre Alechinsky , Tauba Auerbach , John Baldessari , Matthew Barney , Thomas Bayrle, Tacita Dean , Cerith Wyn Evans , Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster , Richard Hamilton , David Hockney , Christine & Irene Hohenbüchler, Joan Jonas , Martha Jungwirth, Jeff Koons , Maria Lassnig , Oswald Oberhuber, Giulio Paolini , Rirkrit Tiravanija , Rosemarie Trockel , Cy Twombly , Kara Walker , Carrie Mae Weems and Franz West . In chronological order,
6935-538: The scheduled closing date of his tenure to the end of the 2022–2023 season. Muti announced that he will step down as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the end of the 2022–2023 season. According to classical music critic Zachery Wolffe , his directorship in Chicago was an "enormous success" with "pristine yet intense, powerful yet graceful" performances of operas in concert, canonical orchestral pieces, new premiers, and "rarities of
7030-456: The scheduled closing date of his tenure to the end of the 2022–2023 season. Muti announced that he will step down as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the end of the 2022–2023 season. According to classical music critic Zachery Wolffe , his directorship in Chicago was an "enormous success" with "pristine yet intense, powerful yet graceful" performances of operas in concert, canonical orchestral pieces, new premiers, and "rarities of
7125-511: The works of Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and Wagner . In 1992, Muti conducted performances of Leoncavallo 's Pagliacci with Luciano Pavarotti . A recording was also made of these performances. At La Scala, Muti was noted for exploring lesser-known works of the Classical - and early Romantic-era repertory such as Lodoiska by Cherubini and La vestale by Spontini . Vienna State Opera The Vienna State Opera (German: Wiener Staatsoper , IPA: [ˈviːnɐ ˈʃtaːtsˌʔoːpɐ] )
7220-544: The world participated. The academy has as its purpose to pass on to young musicians Riccardo Muti's experience and lessons and to make the audience understand in its full complexity the path to accomplish an opera production. In the United States, from 1980 to 1992 Muti was music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra , which he led on numerous international tours. In 1979, he was appointed its music director and, in 1992, conductor laureate. Muti stated that his approach
7315-480: The world participated. The academy has as its purpose to pass on to young musicians Riccardo Muti's experience and lessons and to make the audience understand in its full complexity the path to accomplish an opera production. In the United States, from 1980 to 1992 Muti was music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra , which he led on numerous international tours. In 1979, he was appointed its music director and, in 1992, conductor laureate. Muti stated that his approach
7410-524: The world's leading conductors, in a 2015 Bachtrack poll, he was ranked by music critics as the world's fifth best living conductor. Muti was born in Naples but he spent his early childhood in Molfetta , near Bari , in the long region of Apulia on Italy's southern Adriatic coast. His father, Domenico, was a pathologist in Molfetta, as well as an amateur singer and great music lover; his mother, Gilda,
7505-422: The world, especially prominent names in business and politics. The opera ball receives media coverage from a range of outlets. The opera ball in 1968 was the occasion for a protest, at which the organisation was criticised for being "elite" (due to the high prices), "conceited" (due to the opulent display of wealth for the newspapers and cameras) and "reactionary" (for upholding an allegedly outdated culture). There
7600-446: Was awarded a diploma cum laude. He was subsequently awarded a diploma in Composition and Conducting by the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory , Milan, where he studied with the composer Bruno Bettinelli and the conductor Antonino Votto . He has also studied composition with Nino Rota , whom he considers a mentor. He was unanimously awarded first place by the jury of the " Guido Cantelli Competition for Conductors " in Milan in 1967 and became,
7695-419: Was deprecatingly referred to as "the 'Königgrätz' of architecture". Eduard van der Nüll committed suicide, and barely ten weeks later Sicardsburg died from tuberculosis so neither architect saw the completion of the building. The opening premiere was Don Giovanni , by Mozart , on 25 May 1869. Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth (Sissi) were present. Towards the end of World War II, on 12 March 1945,
7790-551: Was intended as the main stone to be used in the building of the opera house, but the necessary quantity was not deliverable. Breitenbrunner stone was suggested as a substitute for the Kelheimer stone, and stone from Jois was used as a cheaper alternative to the Kaiserstein. The staircases were constructed from polished Kaiserstein, while most of the rest of the interior was decorated with varieties of marble . The decision
7885-483: Was made to use dimension stone for the exterior of the building. Due to the monumental demand for stone, stone from Sóskút , widely used in Budapest , was also used. Three Viennese masonry companies were employed to supply enough masonry labour: Eduard Hauser (still in existence today), Anton Wasserburger and Moritz Pranter. The foundation stone was laid on 20 May 1863. The building was, however, not very popular with
7980-466: Was named Music Director Emeritus in Chicago in 2023. A prolific recording artist , Muti has received numerous honours and awards , including two Grammy Awards . He is especially associated with the music of Giuseppe Verdi . Among the world's leading conductors, in a 2015 Bachtrack poll, he was ranked by music critics as the world's fifth best living conductor. Muti was born in Naples but he spent his early childhood in Molfetta , near Bari , in
8075-482: Was only a temporary roof on the Staatsoper, as construction work continued. It was not until 5 November 1955, after the Austrian State Treaty , that the Staatsoper could be reopened with a performance of Beethoven 's Fidelio , conducted by Karl Böhm . The American Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles , was present. The state broadcaster ORF used the occasion to make its first live broadcast, at
8170-417: Was remembered for singing with "half a lung" in order to fulfil his dream, many other artists became associated with the Mozart-Ensemble, for example Karl Böhm , but their role was still greatly peripheral, in a straightforward or assisting role. This was the beginning of Krips' worldwide career, which would take him to the most prominent houses in the world. Until his death in 1974, Krips was regarded as one of
8265-401: Was repeated in front of the former Italian president Giorgio Napolitano and former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi . Muti, who had stated that it had been the first time in his life that he conducted chorus and audience together and also the last, on that occasion conducted the Verdi opera in the "orthodox" manner. Muti is married to Maria Cristina Mazzavillani, the founder and director of
8360-446: Was said to be named the next music director of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma , effective December 2010, but the news given by the mayor (and therefore president of Opera di Roma) Gianni Alemanno was not true. Alemanno, instead, announced in October 2011 that Muti accepted an invitation by the Orchestra of Opera di Roma to become a "lifetime conductor" of Opera di Roma. On the night of 12 March 2011, Rome 's Teatro dell'Opera staged
8455-601: Was temporarily housed at the Theater an der Wien and at the Vienna Volksoper . Lengthy discussion took place about whether the opera house should be restored to its original state on its original site, or whether it should be completely demolished and rebuilt, either on the same location or on a different site. Eventually the decision was made to rebuild the opera house as it had been, and the main restoration experts involved were Ernst Kolb (1948–1952) and Udo Illig (1953–1956). The Austrian Federal Chancellor Leopold Figl made
8550-438: Was the favoured building material, on the advice of, among others, Arturo Toscanini . In addition, the number of seats in the parterre (stalls) was reduced, and the fourth gallery, which had been fitted with columns, was restructured so as not to need columns. The façade, entrance hall and the "Schwind" foyer were restored and remain in their original style. In the meantime, the opera company, which had at first been performing in
8645-597: Was the founder and mentor, who had only survived the Nazi era (given his Jewish heritage) thanks to luck and help from colleagues. At the end of the war, Krips started the renovation of the Staatoper, and was able to implement his aesthetic principles, including the departure from the Romantic Mozart ideal with a voluminous orchestral sound. Instead, qualities more associated with chamber music were featured, as well as
8740-419: Was to remain faithful to the intent of the composer. This meant a change from applying the lush "Philadelphia Sound," created by his predecessors Eugene Ormandy and Leopold Stokowski , to all repertoire; however, many of his recordings with that orchestra largely seem to do away with its hallmark sound, even in the works of such composers as Tchaikovsky , Brahms , and other high romantics. His sonic changes to
8835-419: Was to remain faithful to the intent of the composer. This meant a change from applying the lush "Philadelphia Sound," created by his predecessors Eugene Ormandy and Leopold Stokowski , to all repertoire; however, many of his recordings with that orchestra largely seem to do away with its hallmark sound, even in the works of such composers as Tchaikovsky , Brahms , and other high romantics. His sonic changes to
8930-465: Was translated and published in English as Riccardo Muti: An Autobiography: First the Music, Then the Words . Music critic John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune described Muti's memoir as "fascinating." With the Philadelphia Orchestra, his recordings include a Beethoven symphony cycle, the symphonies of Brahms and Scriabin , selected works of Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev , as well as less-known works of composers such as Puccini and Busoni . Muti
9025-405: Was violence between the demonstrators and the police. "Safety Curtain" is an exhibition series conceived by the non-profit art initiative museum in progress , which has been transforming the safety curtain of the Vienna State Opera into a temporary exhibition space for contemporary art since 1998. A jury ( Daniel Birnbaum and Hans-Ulrich Obrist ) selects the artists whose works are attached to
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