Antonio Pappano | |
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| Born | (1959-12-30)30 December 1959 (age 65) Epping, Essex, England |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Music, London |
| Occupation | Conductor |
| Known for | Conductor ofRoyal Opera House, andOrchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia andLondon Symphony Orchestra |
| Spouse | Pamela Bullock (1995–present) |
Sir Antonio PappanoCVO (born 30 December 1959) is an English-Italian conductor and pianist. Between 2002 and 2024, he was the longest-serving music director of theRoyal Opera House. Since 2024, he has served as chief conductor of theLondon Symphony Orchestra.
Pappano was born inEpping, Essex. Pappano's family had relocated to England fromCastelfranco in Miscano nearBenevento, Italy, in 1958, and at the time of his birth his parents worked in the restaurant business. His father, Pasquale Pappano, was by vocation a singing teacher.[2]
When Pappano was 13 years old, he moved with his family toConnecticut. After musical training in piano, composition, and conducting, he became arehearsal accompanist at theNew York City Opera at the age of 21.[3]
Pappano attracted the attention of fellow pianist and conductorDaniel Barenboim, and became his assistant at theBayreuth Festival.[4] He worked inBarcelona andFrankfurt, and served as an assistant toMichael Gielen.[5]
Pappano's first conducting appearance atDen Norske Opera was in 1987, and he became music director there in 1990.[2] From 1992 to 2002, Pappano served as music director ofRoyal Theatre of La MonnaieBrussels, Belgium. He was principal guest conductor of theIsrael Philharmonic Orchestra from 1997 to 1999. In 2005, Pappano became music director of theOrchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.[6] He is scheduled to stand down from the Santa Cecilia post in 2023.[7]
In 2002, Pappano was named the music director of theRoyal Opera House (ROH) inCovent Garden,London.[2] Pappano was the youngest conductor at the orchestra of the ROH, performing for theRoyal Opera andRoyal Ballet. At Covent Garden, Pappano andKasper Holten, the ROH Director of Opera, shared responsibility for production.[8] The ROH contract renewed Pappano's contract several times, to 2017, and then to 2023.[9] BBC Radio broadcast in 2017 an hour-long documentary of Pappano's preparation of a new production ofLa bohème at the Royal Opera House.[10] In March 2021, the ROH announced the latest extension of Pappano's contract through the 2023–2024 season, and the scheduled conclusion of Pappano's tenure at the close of the 2023–2024 season.[11] After stepping down in June 2024, he was appointed in May 2025 as the first Conductor Laureate of the Royal Opera, a title that recognises his legacy as the longest serving music director of the Royal Opera.[12]
Pappano had first guest-conducted theLondon Symphony Orchestra (LSO) in 1996. He has returned as guest conductor to the LSO on over 70 occasions, and made several recordings with the LSO. In March 2021, the LSO announced the appointment of Pappano as its next chief conductor, effective in September 2024. He held the title of chief conductor-designate in the orchestra's 2023–2024 London season.[13]
In 2023 he directed the orchestra at thecoronation of Charles III and Camilla.[14]
Pappano's awards and honours include Gramophone's ‘Artist of the Year’ (2000), the 2003Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera, the 2004Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award, and the Académie du Disque Lyrique's Bruno Walter prize. On 17 January 2013 he received theIncorporated Society of Musicians' Distinguished Musician Award.[15] He was awarded the Gold Medal of theRoyal Philharmonic Society in 2015.[16]
Pappano wasknighted in the2012 New Year Honours for services to music.[17] In 2012, he was made aCavaliere di Gran Croce of the Republic of Italy.[2] He was appointedCommander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the2024 New Year Honours for services at the coronation.[18]
Pappano is married to Pamela Bullock, an American vocal coach[8] and they live in London.[citation needed]
Pappano records regularly forWarner Classics. His recordings include:
Pappano has presented for the BBC including:
Maeckelbergh, Lucrèce,Antonio Pappano: Con Passione. Snoeck, 2006.ISBN 90-5349-527-4.
| Cultural offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Music Director, Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels 1992–2002 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Music Director, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden 2002–2024 | Succeeded by |
