Please call me Claudio…

Dive into the magical realm of a musical luminary, whose legacy enchants both old souls and young virtuosos.

The conductor Claudio Abbado – that was the epitome of precision with a close connection to each of his musicians in the orchestra. When Abbado stood on the conductor's podium, the concert audience experienced a performance in which the grand conductor, through attentive collaboration, a mutual exchange, and a relaxed Italian nobility, summoned the last reserves of strength within both himself and the orchestra. This was to unleash the magic of a musical moment and to bestow it upon the world.

His conducting career is remarkable: Music director of La Scala in Milan, chief conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, the first guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Wiener Staatsoper, leader of the Salzburg Easter Festival, and for 12 years, the chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker. He has also gifted the world with the establishment of several orchestras. Yet, the reserved maestro did not assume the role of a conductor superstar; his passion was dedicated to innovation - not just within the musical realm - and nurturing the next generation.

On January 20, 2014, Claudio Abbado passed away in Bologna after a prolonged fight against cancer. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his death, it's time to reflect cinematically on his journey, to revisit his performances and recordings, to get closer to him as a person, and to illustrate what aspects of Abbado continue to resonate today, even within the younger generation of musicians.

Genre Documentary
Production year 2023
Duration approx. 52'
Video format HD
TV Director Beatrix Conrad
Producer EuroArts Music International in coproduction with HELIOX Films, MEZZO, SWR, SRF