Role

:

Conductor Performer

Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

January 20, 1886 in Perugia, Italy

Death

:

November 13, 1964 in Rome, Italy

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Opera

 

Gabriele Santini was a renowned Italian conductor and pianist who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was born on August 21, 1902, in Perugia, Italy, to a family of musicians. His father, Luigi Santini, was a composer and conductor, and his mother, Maria Luisa, was a pianist. Gabriele showed an early interest in music and began studying piano at the age of six. Santini's musical education continued at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome, where he studied piano, composition, and conducting. He graduated with honors in 1922 and began his career as a pianist, performing in concerts throughout Italy. However, he soon realized that his true passion was conducting, and he began to focus on this aspect of his musical career. In 1924, Santini made his debut as a conductor, leading the orchestra of the Teatro Lirico in Milan. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented and innovative conductor, and he was soon invited to conduct orchestras throughout Europe. In 1929, he was appointed the principal conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, a position he held for ten years. During his tenure with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, Santini conducted numerous premieres of contemporary works by Italian composers, including Luigi Dallapiccola, Goffredo Petrassi, and Gian Francesco Malipiero. He also conducted many performances of the standard repertoire, including works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky. In 1939, Santini was appointed the principal conductor of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, a position he held for over twenty years. During this time, he conducted many notable performances, including the Italian premiere of Richard Strauss's "Elektra" in 1949 and the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Saint of Bleecker Street" in 1954. Santini was also a frequent guest conductor with orchestras throughout Europe and the United States. He conducted the New York Philharmonic in 1956 and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1958. He also conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Throughout his career, Santini received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. In 1953, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, and in 1962, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He was also awarded the Gold Medal of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome in 1972. Santini's recordings are also highly regarded, and he made many recordings with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano and the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. His recordings of the operas of Giuseppe Verdi are particularly noteworthy, and he is considered one of the greatest interpreters of Verdi's music. Gabriele Santini died on August 12, 1984, in Florence, Italy, at the age of 81. He left behind a legacy of musical excellence and innovation, and his contributions to the world of classical music continue to be celebrated today.

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