Musician and Conductor. Born to immigrant Italian parents (his father was a music-loving blacksmith), in Vallorbe, Switzerland, he was considered a leading conductor in the European concert and opera scene. He attended the music conservatory in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he studied piano, cello and singing. His international career leaped forward after he won the prestigious Gino Marinuzzi conducting award in Italy in 1982. He rose to prominence as chief conductor of the Turin Opera and then served as artistic director of the Lucerne Theatre in Switzerland and conducted orchestras in several German cities. In 1986 he was awarded the Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles-Cros. He conducted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna State Opera and Paris' Opera Bastille and others. In 2002 he was appointed music director at Italy's noted Gran Teatro La Fenice and oversaw reconstruction of the theater after a devastating 1996 fire there. Also held the position of chief conductor of the Munich Radio Orchestra, performing for Bayerische Rundfunk, from 1998 until 2004. In his last public performance he conducted Vincenzo Bellini's Norma at the Vienna State Opera on February 5, 2005. Cause of death: stroke, in Munich, Germany.
Musician and Conductor. Born to immigrant Italian parents (his father was a music-loving blacksmith), in Vallorbe, Switzerland, he was considered a leading conductor in the European concert and opera scene. He attended the music conservatory in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he studied piano, cello and singing. His international career leaped forward after he won the prestigious Gino Marinuzzi conducting award in Italy in 1982. He rose to prominence as chief conductor of the Turin Opera and then served as artistic director of the Lucerne Theatre in Switzerland and conducted orchestras in several German cities. In 1986 he was awarded the Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles-Cros. He conducted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna State Opera and Paris' Opera Bastille and others. In 2002 he was appointed music director at Italy's noted Gran Teatro La Fenice and oversaw reconstruction of the theater after a devastating 1996 fire there. Also held the position of chief conductor of the Munich Radio Orchestra, performing for Bayerische Rundfunk, from 1998 until 2004. In his last public performance he conducted Vincenzo Bellini's Norma at the Vienna State Opera on February 5, 2005. Cause of death: stroke, in Munich, Germany.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
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