Antonio Pappano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonio Pappano
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Pappano (right) receiving the Vittorio de Sica prize from President Napolitano (2010)
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| Born | 30 December 1959 Epping, Essex, England
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| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Music, London |
| Occupation | Conductor |
| Known for | Conductor of Royal Opera House, and Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and London Symphony Orchestra |
| Spouse(s) | Pamela Bullock (1995–present) |
Sir Antonio Pappano (born December 30, 1959) is a famous English-Italian conductor and pianist. He is known for leading some of the world's best orchestras and opera houses. Currently, he is the music director of the Royal Opera House in London. He is also the chief conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.
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Antonio Pappano's Early Life
Antonio Pappano was born in Epping, England. His family moved to England from Italy in 1958. His father, Pasquale Pappano, was a singing teacher.
When Antonio was 13, his family moved to Connecticut in the United States. He studied piano, music composition, and conducting. At 21, he became a rehearsal accompanist at the New York City Opera. This means he played the piano for singers during their practice sessions.
Pappano's Amazing Career
Antonio Pappano's talent was noticed by another famous conductor, Daniel Barenboim. Pappano became Barenboim's assistant at the Bayreuth Festival. He also worked in cities like Barcelona and Frankfurt.
Leading Opera Houses
Pappano first conducted at the Norwegian National Opera in 1987. He became their music director in 1990. From 1992 to 2002, he led the Royal Theatre of La Monnaie in Brussels, Belgium.
In 2005, Pappano became the music director of the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Italy. He is scheduled to leave this role in 2023.
Royal Opera House Director
In 2002, Pappano was chosen as the music director of the Royal Opera House (ROH) in London. He was the youngest conductor to lead the orchestra there. He worked with the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet.
Pappano has renewed his contract with the ROH several times. In 2017, BBC Radio showed a documentary about him. It followed his work on a new opera called La bohème at the Royal Opera House. His time at the ROH is set to end after the 2023–2024 season.
Conducting the London Symphony Orchestra
Pappano first conducted the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) as a guest in 1996. He has returned to conduct the LSO more than 70 times! He has also made many recordings with them.
In March 2021, the LSO announced that Pappano would be their next chief conductor. This role will start in September 2024. Before that, he will be the chief conductor-designate for the 2023–2024 season. In 2021, he also returned to the Metropolitan Opera to conduct Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
Coronation Performance
In 2023, Sir Antonio Pappano directed the orchestra at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla. This was a very important event for the United Kingdom.
Awards and Special Honours
Sir Antonio Pappano has received many awards for his musical work. Some of these include:
- Gramophone's ‘Artist of the Year’ in 2000.
- The 2003 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera.
- The 2004 Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award.
- The Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society in 2015.
He was made a knight in 2012 for his services to music. This means he can use "Sir" before his name. In 2012, he also received a high honour from Italy, becoming a Cavaliere di Gran Croce. In 2024, he was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his work at the coronation.
Pappano's Personal Life
Antonio Pappano is married to Pamela Bullock. She is an American vocal coach, which means she helps singers improve their voices. They live in London.
Recordings You Can Listen To
Pappano has made many recordings with Warner Classics. Some of his famous recordings include:
- Operas by Giacomo Puccini, like La bohème and Tosca.
- Operas by Giuseppe Verdi, such as Aida and Messa da Requiem.
- Symphonies by Antonín Dvořák and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
- Piano Concertos by Sergei Rachmaninoff with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes.
Pappano on Television
Pappano has also presented TV shows for the BBC.
- Pappano's Classical Voices: A four-part series about famous singers and different voice types (like soprano or tenor) over the last 100 years.
- Opera Italia (2010): A three-part series about the history of Italian opera.
- The first episode looked at early opera from Monteverdi to Rossini.
- The second episode focused on six famous operas by Verdi.
- The third episode explored five popular operas by Puccini.
See also
In Spanish: Antonio Pappano para niños
