Role

:

Conductor Performer

Birth

:

September 22, 1931 in Adria, Italy

Death

:

February 6, 2020 in Zürich, Switzerland

Genre

:

Opera

 

Nello Santi was a renowned Italian conductor who was born on September 22, 1931, in Adria, Italy. He was born into a family of musicians, and his father was a conductor and composer. Santi began his musical education at a young age, studying piano and composition. He later went on to study conducting at the Conservatorio di Musica Benedetto Marcello in Venice. Santi began his career as a conductor in 1951, when he was appointed as the assistant conductor at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented conductor, and in 1958, he was appointed as the principal conductor of the Basel Opera in Switzerland. He remained in this position until 1969, during which time he conducted numerous productions and established himself as one of the leading conductors in Europe. In 1969, Santi was appointed as the principal conductor of the Zurich Opera, a position he held until 1991. During his tenure at the Zurich Opera, Santi conducted numerous productions, including many of the standard repertoire operas such as Verdi's "Aida," "La Traviata," and "Rigoletto," as well as Puccini's "La Bohème" and "Tosca." He also conducted the world premiere of Hans Werner Henze's "We Come to the River" in 1976. Santi was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to bring out the best in his performers. He was also known for his ability to conduct with great passion and intensity, which made his performances particularly memorable. His interpretations of the standard repertoire operas were highly regarded, and he was often invited to conduct at other major opera houses around the world. In addition to his work at the Zurich Opera, Santi also conducted at other major opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Vienna State Opera. He was also a regular guest conductor at the Salzburg Festival, where he conducted numerous productions, including Verdi's "Don Carlo" and "Otello," as well as Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" and "Don Giovanni." Santi was the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1988, he was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, and in 1991, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He was also awarded the Gold Medal of the City of Zurich in 1991, in recognition of his contributions to the city's cultural life. Santi continued to conduct well into his later years, and he remained an active presence in the world of classical music until his death on February 5, 2020, at the age of 88. His legacy as one of the greatest conductors of his generation lives on through his recordings and the memories of those who had the privilege of seeing him conduct live.

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