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 on December 30, 1959, is a famous English-Italian conductor and pianist. He is known for leading big orchestras and opera performances. He is the music director of the Royal Opera House and the chief conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Growing Up and Moving to the US
Antonio Pappano was born in Epping, Essex, England. His family moved to England from a town near Benevento, Italy, in 1958. When Antonio was born, his parents worked in the restaurant business. His father, Pasquale Pappano, was also a singing teacher.
When Antonio was 13, his family moved to Connecticut in the United States. He studied piano, learned how to compose music, and how to conduct.
First Steps in Opera
At 21, Antonio became a rehearsal accompanist at the New York City Opera. This means he played the piano for singers during their practice sessions. This was an important step in his career.
A Conductor's Journey
Working with Famous Conductors
Antonio Pappano caught the attention of Daniel Barenboim, another famous pianist and conductor. Antonio became Daniel Barenboim's assistant at the Bayreuth Festival. He also worked in cities like Barcelona and Frankfurt. He was an assistant to conductor Michael Gielen.
Leading Orchestras Around the World
Pappano first conducted at the Norwegian National Opera in 1987. He became their music director in 1990. From 1992 to 2002, he was the music director of the Royal Theatre of La Monnaie in Brussels, Belgium. He was also a main guest conductor for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra from 1997 to 1999.
In 2005, Pappano became the music director of the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Italy. He stepped down from this role in 2023.
Leading the Royal Opera House
In 2002, Antonio 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 both the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet. At the ROH, Pappano and the Director of Opera, Kasper Holten, shared the responsibility for putting on shows.
His contract with the ROH was extended several times. A BBC Radio show in 2017 showed Pappano preparing a new production of the opera La bohème. His time at the Royal Opera House concluded at the end of the 2023–2024 season.
Conducting the London Symphony Orchestra
Pappano first guest-conducted the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) in 1996. He has returned to conduct the LSO more than 70 times. He has also made several recordings with them. In March 2021, the LSO announced that Pappano would be their next chief conductor. He officially started this role in September 2024. He was called the chief conductor-designate during the 2023–2024 London season.
In 2021, he returned to the Metropolitan Opera to conduct Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. In 2023, he led the orchestra at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Antonio Pappano has received many awards for his musical talents. 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 Bruno Walter prize from the Académie du Disque Lyrique.
- The Incorporated Society of Musicians' Distinguished Musician Award in 2013.
- 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 be called "Sir." In 2012, he also received a high honor 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.
Personal Life
Antonio Pappano is married to Pamela Bullock. She is an American vocal coach, someone who helps singers with their voices. They live in London.
Recordings
Pappano regularly records music for Warner Classics. Some of his recordings include:
- Harrison Birtwistle: The Minotaur
- Philippe Boesmans: Wintermärchen
- Jules Massenet: Manon, Werther
- Giacomo Puccini: Il trittico, La bohème, La rondine, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Turandot
- Gioachino Rossini: Stabat Mater, William Tell
- Giuseppe Verdi: Don Carlo, Il Trovatore, Messa da Requiem, Aida
- Richard Wagner: Tristan und Isolde
- Hugo Wolf: Lieder, with tenor Ian Bostridge
- Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 & Cello Concerto
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphony No.2
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 1 & Piano Concerto No. 2, with Leif Ove Andsnes
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 & Piano Concerto No. 4, with Leif Ove Andsnes
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphonies No. 4-6
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Overtures And Fantasies
Television Appearances
Pappano has presented several shows for the BBC, sharing his knowledge of music:
- Opera Italia (BBC, 2010) – This was a three-part series about the history of Italian opera.
- The first episode looked at early opera, from Monteverdi to Rossini. It also talked about Handel and Mozart, who were very important in developing opera.
- The second episode focused on six of Verdi's most famous operas. These included Nabucco, Rigoletto, Don Carlo, Otello, Falstaff and La Traviata.
- The third episode covered five of Puccini's popular operas. These were La Boheme, Tosca, Madame Butterfly, Gianni Schicchi and Turandot.
- Pappano's Classical Voices (BBC, 2015) – This was a four-part series. It explored the great singing roles and the best singers from the last 100 years. It looked at different voice types like soprano, tenor, mezzo-soprano, baritone, and bass.
See also
In Spanish: Antonio Pappano para niños
