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Chailly on 13 August 1986 conducting a rehearsal of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Riccardo Chailly OMRI (Italian pronunciation: [rikˈkardo ʃʃaˈ(j)i], French: [ʃɑji]; born 20 February 1953) is an Italian conductor. He is currently music director of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and of La Scala. Prior to this, he held chief conducting positions at the Gewandhausorchester (2005–2016); the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (1988–2004); the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (1982–1988); and the Teatro Comunale of Bologna (1986–1993). He was also the first musical director of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi (1999–2005) and principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (1983–1986).

Born in Milan, Chailly first studied composition with his father, Luciano Chailly, in his youth. He continued with composition at the conservatories in Milan and Perugia, but later shifted to conducting under Piero Guarino and Franco Ferrara. He made his conducting debut at La Scala in 1978 with Massenet's Werther, where he had been assistant director to Claudio Abbado since 1973. Upon becoming principal conductor at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, he embarked on performing standard symphonic works—particularly Bruckner and Mahler—but expanded the orchestra's previously minuscule 20th century and contemporary repertoire. For 30 years, Chailly has recorded exclusively with Decca.[1]

Biography

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Early life

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Chailly was born on 20 February 1953 into a musical family of Romagnol and French descent based in Milan.[2] His father Luciano was a noted composer and arts administrator,[3] holding positions at numerous Italian musical institutions, including as music director of La Scala.[4][n 1] Luciano's oeuvre was centered on a neoclassical aesthetic, influenced by his former teacher Paul Hindemith,[4] which granted him an epitaph as the "Italian Hindemith".[2] Luciano Chailly married Riccardo's mother Anna Maria in 1950; Riccardo has two sisters, the harpist Cecilia Chailly and the television producer Floriana Chailly.[5] Taken by his father to his first concert at age 6,[6] Chailly quickly became obsessed with music, explaining in a 2002 interview by The Guardian: "I didn't do anything else, and always chose music over regular boyhood activities such as sports".[2] Chailly studied composition with his father,[1] took private piano lessons and played drums in The Nameless, a free jazz ensemble.[2] Despite Chailly's musical enthusiasm, his father was reluctant to encourage him readily. He was disappointed by his son's lack of interest in the technical aspects such as musicology, his general mediocrity with instruments other than the drums[2] and wanted to avoid any appearance of nepotism.[3]

Chailly studied composition at the music conservatories in Milan and Perugia. He later switched to conducting, studying with both Piero Guarino and Franco Ferrara. In his youth, Chailly also played the drums in a rhythm-and-blues band.[7][1]

At age 20, Chailly became assistant conductor to Claudio Abbado at La Scala, where he made his conducting debut in 1978 with Werther by Jules Massenet. From 1982 to 1988, Chailly was chief conductor of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and from 1983 to 1986 principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1986 to 1993, he led the Teatro Comunale of Bologna.[1]

Career

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Chailly made his debut with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam in January 1985. The orchestra announced his appointment as chief conductor in June 1985, effective with the 1988–1989 season. Chailly served as the orchestra's chief conductor from 1988 to 2004. In addition to performances of the standard symphonic tradition, notably Anton Bruckner and Gustav Mahler, he broadened the repertoire with 20th century and contemporary music.[8][9] Among notable projects, Chailly led the 1995 Mahler Festival that celebrated the 100th anniversary of Mahler's first concert at the Concertgebouw. Chailly also conducted opera in Amsterdam, both at the RCO's annual Christmas Matinee concert as well as at De Nederlandse Opera (DNO), where his final opera production in Amsterdam was DNO's staging of Giuseppe Verdi's Don Carlo.[10] One report stated that Chailly decided in 2002 to leave the RCO when, at his last contract negotiations, the orchestra offered him an extension for two years rather than five.[11]

External audio
audio icon You may hear Riccardo Chailly conducting the Gewandhaus Orchestra with Nelson Freire performing Johannes Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 in 2006
Here on archive.org
audio icon You may hear Riccardo Chailly conducting the Gewandhaus Orchestra with Nelson Freire performing Johannes Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83 in 2006
Here on Archive.org

In 1986, Chailly conducted the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig for the first time, at the Salzburg Festival, after Herbert von Karajan had introduced Chailly to the orchestra.[12] His next guest-conducting appearance with the Leipzig orchestra was in 2001, and after an additional appearance, he was named the 19th Kapellmeister of the orchestra.[13][14] In August 2005, he officially became the chief conductor of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and general music director (GMD) of Oper Leipzig. His initial Leipzig contract was to run through to 2010.[15] In May 2008, he extended his contract with the Gewandhausorchester to 2015. However, he concurrently resigned as GMD of the Oper Leipzig, reportedly after a conflict over the hiring of personnel without his consultation.[16][17] In June 2013, the Gewandhausorchester and Chailly agreed on a further extension of his contract through 2020.[18] However, in September 2015, the Gewandhausorchester announced the newly scheduled conclusion of Chailly's tenure as Gewandhauskapellmeister in June 2016, four years ahead of the previously agreed upon contract extension, at Chailly's request.[19][20][21] His projects in Leipzig have included an international Mahler festival in May 2011, featuring 10 different orchestras.

Chailly became the first music director of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi (La Verdi) in 1999 and held the post until 2005. He now has the title of Conductor Laureate with La Verdi. In December 2013, La Scala announced the appointment of Chailly as its next music director, starting in 2017.[22] His most recent La Scala contract extension was through 2026.[23] Chailly is scheduled to stand down as music director of La Scala at the close of 2026.[24]

In August 2015, the Lucerne Festival Orchestra announced the appointment of Chailly as its next music director, effective with the 2016 Lucerne Festival, with an initial contract of 5 years.[25] In February 2021, the orchestra announced an extension of Chailly's contract through 2026.[26] In December 2025, the orchestra announced a further extension of Chailly's contract through the end of 2028.[27]

Recordings

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Chailly has an exclusive recording contract with Decca,[1] and his recordings with Decca include complete cycles of the symphonies of Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler and Anton Bruckner. His Brahms cycle with the Gewandhausorchester won the 2014 Gramophone Award for Recording of the Year. Other notable achievements include recordings of Igor Stravinsky, Edgard Varèse and Paul Hindemith. More recently, with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Chailly has led recordings of Felix Mendelssohn, Johann Sebastian Bach, Brahms, Robert Schumann's symphonies in the re-orchestrations by Mahler, and a complete cycle of Beethoven's symphonies. His past recordings with American orchestras included Shostakovich: The Dance Album with the Philadelphia Orchestra[28] and Stravinsky's Le Sacre du printemps with the Cleveland Orchestra.

Personal life

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Chailly has been married twice. His first marriage was in 1974 to Anahi Carfi, an Argentinian-Italian violinist, with whom he had a daughter that year; the couple divorced two years later. He married Gabriella Terragni in 1982, from whom he has a stepson.[2]

Earlier in his life, Chailly was an avid partaker in extreme sports, including motorbiking, speedboating and parasailing.[3] However, after he and his stepson were involved in a serious accident in 1985, Chailly abandoned these activities.[2]

Awards

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Notes

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References

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Sources

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Riccardo Chailly

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Riccardo Chailly is an Italian conductor born in in 1953, renowned for his interpretations of and Romantic symphonic repertoire, and currently serving as of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra from 2016 to 2026 and of Teatro alla Scala in from 2017 to 2026. The son of composer Luciano Chailly, he grew up in a musical family and made his debut at in 1978 conducting Verdi's I masnadieri. Early in his career, he assisted with the La Scala orchestra's symphonic seasons, which helped build his conducting expertise. Chailly studied at the conservatories of , , and , and further honed his skills at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in under conductor Franco Ferrara. His first major orchestral appointment came in as chief conductor of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (now the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester ), a position he held until 1989. From 1988 to 2004, he served as chief conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in for 16 years, during which he also acted as music director of the Teatro Comunale di and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano. He then became of the from 2005 to 2016, leading Europe's oldest symphony orchestra, before succeeding at the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. Throughout his career, Chailly has conducted leading orchestras worldwide, including the , , Bavarian Radio Symphony, , , , , , and . In opera, he has appeared regularly at major venues such as the in New York, in , , , , , and Opera, as well as festivals like , , and the . At , he has directed a broad operatic repertoire including works by , Puccini, Rossini, Donizetti, and Giordano, informed by recent musicological research, and has led symphonic projects such as a complete Beethoven cycle for the composer's 250th anniversary in 2020. During the , he conducted significant performances including Verdi's in in memory of victims and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony to honor healthcare workers upon La Scala's reopening. Chailly has amassed over 150 recordings, primarily as an exclusive Decca artist for more than 40 years, with recent releases including Verdi's choruses (2023) and Quattro pezzi sacri (2024) with the and Chorus of , as well as earlier acclaimed cycles like Beethoven's nine symphonies (2012) and Brahms's symphonies (2013). His discography has earned prestigious awards, including the Echo Klassik for the Beethoven cycle in 2012, the Gramophone Award for the Brahms symphonies in 2013, and the Premio Abbiati for Rossini's Messa per Rossini in 2018. Among his honors are the Grand'Ufficiale and Cavaliere di Gran Croce of the Italian Republic, Knight of the Order of the Dutch Lion (1998), Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (, 2011), and honorary membership in the Royal Academy of Music (, 1996).

Early Life and Education

Family Background

Riccardo Chailly was born on February 20, 1953, in , , into a deeply musical family that profoundly shaped his early exposure to the arts. His father, Luciano Chailly (1920–2002), was a prominent Italian composer known for works blending neoclassical and contemporary styles, often compared to , and he held key administrative roles, including music director of from 1968 to 1971. Luciano provided Riccardo with initial lessons in composition and immersed him in the world of professional music through frequent visits to rehearsals and performances at Milan's opera houses. His mother, Anna Maria Motta, whom Luciano married in 1950, recognized her son's conducting aptitude early on and actively encouraged his development by arranging evaluations with influential mentors. Chailly grew up alongside two sisters in a that prioritized artistic pursuits. Cecilia Chailly became a noted harpist and , while Floriana Chailly pursued a career as a and . The family's emphasis on music and culture fostered an environment where creative expression was central, with discussions of composition, performance, and the forming a daily backdrop to childhood. In the post-World War II era, served as a vibrant cultural hub, rapidly rebuilding after extensive wartime damage and reestablishing itself as Italy's epicenter for and the arts. La Scala's reopening in 1946 under symbolized this revival, drawing international attention and reinforcing the city's status as a beacon of musical innovation amid the nation's reconstruction efforts. This dynamic atmosphere, combined with his family's connections to the institution, influenced Chailly's early worldview and instilled a lifelong appreciation for 's operatic heritage.

Musical Training

Chailly began his formal musical training at the age of five, receiving lessons from his , the composer Luciano Chailly, who instilled in him a rigorous approach to music from an early age. This early exposure to the laid the foundation for his deep engagement with , though his 's strict teaching style initially yielded modest results in technical proficiency. By his teenage years, Chailly had demonstrated sufficient talent to make his conducting debut at age 14 with I Solisti Veneti in , marking the start of his practical involvement in orchestral work. In the 1960s, Chailly enrolled at the , where he pursued studies in composition under Bruno Bettinelli, alongside training at the conservatories in and . He graduated from the , having honed his compositional skills in a neoclassical vein influenced by his father's legacy as a student of . During this period, Chailly shifted his focus from composition to , recognizing his greater affinity for interpreting and leading orchestral performances. He supplemented his conservatory education with private lessons in from Piero Guarino in , providing him with foundational techniques, and from Franco Ferrara during summer courses at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in and at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in , where he refined his interpretive precision and baton work. At age 20, in 1973, Chailly secured his first major professional opportunity as assistant conductor to at in , a role that immersed him in the demands of and symphonic repertoire while allowing close observation of a master conductor's methods. This position, which he assumed shortly after completing his studies, bridged his academic training with practical experience, emphasizing ensemble leadership and score analysis as key skills that propelled his career forward.

Conducting Career

Early Debuts and Positions

Chailly began his professional conducting career as assistant to at in starting at age 20 in 1973. He made his independent debut there in 1978 conducting Jules Massenet's . This milestone followed his initial opera engagements in , including debuts at the Teatro Comunale in in 1976 and the Teatro Regio in during the 1976–1977 season. His early international profile grew through guest appearances abroad, such as his American debut at age 21 with the Lyric Opera in 1974 and his first engagement at House in 1979. In 1982, Chailly was appointed chief conductor of the Radio Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 1989, marking his transition to a prominent symphonic role. During his Berlin tenure, Chailly expanded the orchestra's repertoire beyond traditional Romantic works, emphasizing late Romantic symphonies while incorporating contemporary compositions to broaden its artistic scope. He also undertook notable guest conducting with leading ensembles, serving as principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra from 1983 to 1986 and appearing with the in the 1980s.

Major Orchestras

Chailly served as chief conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra from 1988 to 2004, a tenure marked by his efforts to revive and expand the ensemble's commitment to 20th-century music while preserving its romantic traditions. He introduced fresh interpretations of modern works, championing composers such as Alfred Schnittke and Luciano Berio, including performances and recordings of Schnittke's Symphony No. 5 and Concerto Grosso No. 4, as well as programming contemporary Italian pieces from his 1985 debut onward. These initiatives broadened the orchestra's repertoire, emphasizing avant-garde and post-war compositions to invigorate its sound. Under his direction, the Concertgebouw undertook extensive international tours, including engagements across the United States and in Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Taiwan, fostering global collaborations and elevating the orchestra's profile. From 1999 to 2005, Chailly was the first of the Orchestra Sinfonica Giuseppe Verdi di Milano, where he helped establish the ensemble as a leading Italian orchestra dedicated to symphonic . In 2005, Chailly assumed the role of principal conductor () of the Gewandhausorchester , holding the position until 2016 and skillfully blending the orchestra's storied Mendelssohn heritage with contemporary programming. His inaugural highlighted Mendelssohn's Second Symphony "" in a newly edited version, underscoring the composer's foundational influence on the ensemble, while subsequent seasons integrated modern works through premieres of commissioned pieces and cycles of symphonies by Beethoven, Brahms, and Mahler reinterpreted with historically informed clarity. Chailly continued to promote living composers, extending his advocacy for figures like Berio and Schnittke into 's programming, which balanced classical precision with innovative textures. The orchestra's tours during this period included high-profile visits to the , such as performances in , alongside collaborations with international venues like London's and Paris's Cité de la Musique, enhancing its worldwide acclaim. Chailly's departure from the Gewandhausorchester in June 2016 concluded a decade of transformative leadership, during which he restored Mahler's symphonies to prominence and solidified the orchestra's status as a world-class ensemble through acclaimed recordings and bold artistic directions. His decision to step down early allowed focus on new projects, leaving a legacy of revitalized programming that bridged historical reverence with modern vitality.

Opera Leadership

Riccardo Chailly's early opera leadership began in the with his appointment as of the Teatro Comunale di from 1986 to 1993, where he conducted numerous successful productions that established his reputation in houses. In December 2013, announced Chailly's appointment as its , effective from the 2016 season, marking a significant return to the theater where he had debuted as Abbado's assistant in 1973. His tenure emphasized the revival of Italian operatic traditions, particularly and repertoires, through focused programming that highlighted composers like and Rossini. Under Chailly's direction, presented key productions including new stagings of 's operas, such as in 2024, which opened the season and showcased his command of Verdian drama. He also oversaw revivals of Rossini works, notably the 2017 premiere of the Messa per Rossini at , a collaborative mass commissioned by and other Italian composers to honor Rossini. These efforts underscored Chailly's commitment to authentic interpretations of 19th-century , blending historical fidelity with dynamic ensemble performance. Chailly's contract at was extended in April 2025 to the end of 2026, allowing him to conclude his tenure with the 2025-26 season opener, Shostakovich's of Mtsensk. In May 2025, announced Myung-Whun Chung as Chailly's successor, effective from 2027, bringing his decade-long leadership to a close while ensuring a smooth transition for the institution.

Musical Style and Repertoire

Symphonic Focus

Riccardo Chailly has been a prominent advocate for late Romantic and 20th-century symphonic repertoire throughout his career, with a particular emphasis on the works of , , and . His interpretations of Mahler's symphonies, such as the Eighth Symphony conducted with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, highlight a commitment to completing major cycles, blending emotional depth with structural clarity. Similarly, Chailly's complete recording of Bruckner's symphonies (Nos. 0–9) with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra demonstrates his affinity for the composer's expansive forms and harmonic richness, often favoring Nowak editions for their fidelity to the originals. For Shostakovich, Chailly has explored both symphonic and lighter orchestral works, including Symphony No. 12 with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and the Jazz Suites with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, capturing the composer's ironic rhythms and political undertones through vibrant ensemble playing. Chailly's integration of into his programming underscores his dedication to bridging historical and modern symphonic traditions, including conducting world premieres of significant works. He led the world premiere of Hans Werner Henze's Elogium musicum in 2008 with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and MDR Rundfunkchor, a choral-orchestral piece dedicated to him that reflects Henze's late-style and textural . More recently, at the Lucerne Festival in 2022, Chailly conducted the world premiere of a new work by , further exemplifying his role in championing living composers alongside canonical repertoire. These efforts align with his broader programming philosophy, which incorporates premieres to invigorate orchestral seasons and foster dialogue between eras. Chailly's signature conducting style in symphonic works features energetic rhythms, precise phrasing, and a balanced interplay between and , achieved through a demonstrative yet controlled presence. He employs his right hand primarily for rhythmic precision and , while the left adds expressive color and nuance, creating an explosive yet transparent sound that suits complex textures. This approach is evident in his refinement of the Gewandhausorchester's during his tenure as (2005–2016), where he emphasized clarity and balance to navigate intricate scores like those of Mahler and , resulting in a more luminous orchestral palette that enhanced polyphonic detail without sacrificing warmth. In recent years, Chailly's symphonic projects have centered on his leadership of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, where he has served as since 2016, with his extended through 2026. This collaboration has yielded focused cycles, such as the complete Mendelssohn symphonies in spring 2022 and Mahler and Rachmaninoff programs in summer editions, alongside recordings of Richard Strauss's orchestral works (2019) and the first installment of a Rachmaninoff symphony cycle (2020). These initiatives, conducted during annual summer festivals and added spring residencies, continue to emphasize Chailly's vision of symphonic music as a dynamic, evolving art form.

Opera Interpretations

Riccardo Chailly has demonstrated particular expertise in the operas of and , where he prioritizes textual fidelity by adhering closely to critical editions and restoring elements omitted in later performances. In Verdi's , for instance, Chailly reinstates a romance that had not been heard since the composer's lifetime, ensuring the dramatic arc remains intact as originally conceived. Similarly, his approach to Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia highlights precise textual rendering through sparkling, elegant phrasing that captures the score's wit without alteration. Throughout these works, Chailly employs orchestral color judiciously to support the singers, balancing the pit's texture to illuminate vocal lines rather than overwhelm them, as evident in his reinstatement of arias in Puccini's Il trittico that enhance singer-orchestra interplay. Chailly's interpretation of repertoire, such as Donizetti's , features light and flexible tempos that allow for agile vocal ornamentation and rhythmic buoyancy, fostering a sense of spontaneity inherent to the style. This contrasts sharply with the heavier, more monumental pacing often applied to Wagnerian operas, where Chailly opts for Italianate precision over expansive rubato; in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, his conducting maintains a supple, humorous flow that underscores without the weighty sonority typical of Germanic scores. In Verdi's , this flexibility manifests in fluid transitions between and , enabling singers to convey emotional nuance through natural phrasing rather than forced intensity. At , Chailly has innovated in integrating orchestral cues with staging to heighten dramatic pacing, as seen in his Tosca where a synchronized stage lift during Scarpia's torture scene aligns precisely with the score's crescendo, revealing a hidden chamber and amplifying the scene's tension. This method extends to productions like , creating a unified theatrical experience through coordination of music and staging. Such techniques draw from thorough preparations beginning with singers, ensuring orchestral responses enhance rather than dictate visual elements. Chailly avoids overly romanticized readings in favor of historical performance practices, consulting archival sources to revive original versions, such as the 1904 . This approach, rooted in traditional Italian methods like those of Tullio Serafin, emphasizes rhythmic vitality and structural clarity over interpretive embellishment, allowing the composers' intentions in works like and Il barbiere di Siviglia to emerge authentically.

Recordings and Legacy

Discography Highlights

Chailly has maintained an exclusive recording contract with Decca since the 1980s, resulting in a catalog exceeding 150 releases that spans symphonic, operatic, and choral repertoire. This partnership, one of the longest for any active conductor, has yielded landmark interpretations emphasizing precision, vitality, and historical authenticity. Among his most notable contributions are complete symphony cycles of key Romantic composers. His Brahms cycle, recorded live with the Gewandhausorchester in 2013, captures the orchestra's idiomatic warmth and structural clarity, earning widespread praise for its balance of lyricism and rhythmic drive. Similarly, Chailly's Mahler cycle with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, assembled from recordings in the late 1980s and 1990s, highlights the composer's emotional depth through transparent textures and dynamic contrasts, with standout performances of the and symphonies. For Bruckner, his complete edition—drawn from sessions with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin across the 1980s to early 2000s—demonstrates architectural grandeur and timbral richness, particularly in the Eighth Symphony's Wagnerian expanses. In the operatic domain, Chailly has produced influential recordings of Italian bel canto and Verdi works with the Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala (Filarmonica della Scala). His Rossini series includes vivid accounts of operas such as La gazza ladra (2017) and overtures from Semiramide, showcasing fleet tempos and theatrical flair that revive the composer's effervescent style, as well as the choral work Messa per Rossini (2018). An early highlight is his 1986 live recording of Verdi's Messa da Requiem with the Orchestra and Coro del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, documented in performance and noted for its dramatic intensity and choral precision. Recent releases underscore Chailly's ongoing commitment to choral music. In 2023, he led the Filarmonica della Scala and Coro del Teatro alla Scala in Verdi Choruses, featuring iconic excerpts like "" from , rendered with operatic sweep and emotional resonance to mark his 70th birthday. This was followed in 2024 by Inno delle nazioni and Quattro pezzi sacri, again with La Scala's forces and tenor Freddie De Tommaso, blending nationalistic fervor with sacred introspection in performances that highlight 's late harmonic sophistication. These recordings have garnered significant critical acclaim, with the Mahler cycle lauded for its interpretive insight and earning multiple award nominations, including from the Gramophone Awards, affirming Chailly's status as a leading interpreter of the Austro-German tradition.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Riccardo Chailly has received numerous accolades recognizing his contributions to , particularly for his recordings and conducting achievements. In 1994, he was appointed Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic () for his cultural services to . He was also named a Knight Grand Cross of the same order in 1998. Additionally, in 1996, Chailly became an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in , honoring his international stature as a conductor. In 2011, he received the Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from . Chailly's discography has earned him several prestigious recording prizes. He won the Gramophone Recording of the Year in 2007 for the Brahms piano concertos with and the . In 2014, he received the same award for his cycle of Brahms symphonies with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, praised for its insight and expressive depth. His Mahler recordings, including the complete symphony cycle with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, have garnered multiple Gramophone accolades for their interpretive clarity and orchestral precision. He also secured Klassik Awards in 2012 and 2015 for various releases, and the Premio Abbiati for Messa per Rossini in 2018. In 2019, Chailly was named Artist of the Year by Diapason magazine and received the Diapason d'Or de l'Année for his Decca recordings of Richard Strauss's tone poems and The Fellini Album with the Filarmonica della Scala. Although no major new awards have been noted since as of November 2025, Chailly continues to receive ongoing recognition through honors at major festivals, such as his role as of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra since 2016, where his performances have been celebrated for revitalizing the institution's legacy.

Personal Life

Chailly has been married twice. His first marriage was in 1973 to Argentine-Italian violinist Anahí Carfi, with whom he had a daughter, Luana, born in 1974. He has been married to Gabriella Terragni since 1982; she has a son from a previous relationship.

References

  1. https://www.lucernefestival.ch/en/program/directory-of-artists/riccardo_chailly/18
  2. https://www.teatroallascala.org/static/upload/05-/05--don-carlo-bio-e-staff-creativo.pdf
  3. https://www.lucernefestival.ch/media/filer_public/e0/a5/e0a5fc1a-74c7-450d-a84e-5f97fc9a8cf2/210211_mr_lucernefestival_riccardo_chailly_lfo_e.pdf
  4. https://www.nenc.news/2025-06-06/south-korean-maestro-chung-will-be-the-first-asian-to-head-italys-famed-la-scala
  5. https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/riccardo-chailly-the-conductor-on-puccini-fellini-and-life-at-la-scala
  6. https://www.dso-berlin.de/en/orchestra/about-the-dso/timeline/
  7. https://www.deccaclassics.com/en/artists/riccardochailly/discography
  8. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/mar/09/books.guardianreview3
  9. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/feb/10/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries
  10. https://www.italia.it/en/lombardy/milan/guide-history-facts
  11. http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2012/june/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20120601_scala-milano.html
  12. https://www.naxos.com/Bio/Person/Riccardo_Chailly/30510
  13. https://www.riccardochailly.com/about/
  14. https://www.deccaclassics.com/en/artists/riccardochailly/biography
  15. http://www.bruceduffie.com/chailly2.html
  16. https://www.bibliotecasalaborsa.it/bolognaonline/objects/riccardo-chailly-direttore-principale-al-teatro-comunale
  17. https://www.lacasadellamusica.it/cronologia/1976-1977_lirica.htm
  18. https://www.kajimotomusic.com/eng/artists-projects/riccardo-chailly/
  19. https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/artists/1025/riccardo-chailly
  20. https://www.concertgebouworkest.nl/en/orchestra/conductors/riccardo-chailly/
  21. https://www.medici.tv/en/artists/riccardo-chailly/
  22. https://www.discogs.com/release/19758163-Alfred-Schnittke-Riccardo-Chailly-Royal-Concertgebouw-Orchestra-Concerto-Grosso-No4Symphony-No5-Conc
  23. https://theartsdesk.com/classical-music/theartsdesk-qa-conductor-riccardo-chailly
  24. https://www.leipzig.de/newsarchiv/news/chailly-era-ends-in-june-2016
  25. https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/riccardo-chailly-conducts-mendelssohn
  26. https://bachtrack.com/interview-riccardo-chailly-beethoven-symphonies-scala-milan-gewandhaus-leipzig-january-2020
  27. https://www.medici.tv/en/artists/riccardo-chailly
  28. https://bostonclassicalreview.com/2014/11/chailly-and-storied-leipzig-orchestra-bring-old-world-richness-to-mendelssohn/
  29. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/09/riccardo-chailly-leipzig-gewandhaus-conducting-interview
  30. https://www.classicfm.com/artists/riccardo-chailly/news/riccardo-chailly-new-la-scala-music-director/
  31. https://www.euronews.com/culture/2015/06/11/center-stage-teatro-alla-scala
  32. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-music-director-riccardo-chailly-teatro-alla-scala/FwVh8ytuJwNtJw?hl=en
  33. https://www.medici.tv/en/operas/verdi-la-forza-del-destino-la-scala-2024-season-opener-anna-netrebko-ludovic-tezier-brian-jagde-fabrizio-beggi-riccardo-chailly-leo-muscato
  34. https://bachtrack.com/review-messa-per-rossini-chailly-filamonica-scala-milan-november-2017
  35. http://www.crossovermedia.net/artists/riccardo-chailly/projects/messa-per-rossini-w-teatro-alla-scala
  36. https://operawire.com/teatro-alla-scala-extends-riccardo-chaillys-contract-2/
  37. https://www.teatroallascala.org/en/myung-whun-chung-next-music-director-in-2027.html
  38. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/arts/music/la-scala-music-director-myung-whun-chung.html
  39. https://www.deccaclassics.com/en/catalogue/products/bruckner-symphonies-0-9-deutsches-symphonie-orchester-9713
  40. https://www.hans-werner-henze-stiftung.de/en/hans-werner-henze/list-of-works/detail/elogium-musicum
  41. https://www.lucernefestival.ch/en/lucerne-festival-orchestra/music-director-riccardo-chailly
  42. https://theviolinchannel.com/riccardo-chailly-contract-extended-lucerne-festival-orchestra/
  43. http://www.paminasopera.com/cd-review-il-barbiere-di-siviglia-1982-chailly/
  44. https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/08/arts/a-new-generation-revels-in-bel-canto.html
  45. https://www.operatoday.com/2019/12/what_to_make_of_tosca_at_la_scala/
  46. https://seenandheard-international.com/2014/07/riccardo-chailly-in-conversation-with-michael-cookson-leipzig-june-2014/
  47. https://www.universalmusic.ca/press-releases/riccardo-chailly-presents-the-fellini-album-out-june-7-on-decca-classics/
  48. https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/article/riccardo-chailly-renews-his-decca-contract
  49. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8042086--brahms-the-symphonies
  50. https://www.discogs.com/release/9102701-Mahler-Chailly-Royal-Concertgebouw-Orchestra-RSO-Berlin-The-Symphonies
  51. https://www.discogs.com/release/11416514-Bruckner-Deutsches-Symphonie-Orchester-Berlin-Royal-Concertgebouw-Orchestra-Riccardo-Chailly-The-Sym
  52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge3yjEZLfgU
  53. https://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Delle-Nazioni-Quatro-Pezzi/dp/B0CT4JB7K4
  54. https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/gramophone-classical-music-awards-2007
  55. https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/gramophone-classical-music-awards-2014
  56. https://www.diapasonmag.fr/a-la-une/diapason-dor-de-lannee-riccardo-chailly-dirige-strauss-2-7026.html
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