The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz
The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz |
| Conductor Claudio Abbado dies aged 80 Posted: 20 Jan 2014 05:01 AM PST Abbado, who shunned the publicity and pomp often associated with maestros and staunchly supported young musicians, died in the northern city of Bologna in his native Italy after a long illness. "The world of music and culture has lost a champion," Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said in a statement. Milan mayor Giuliano Pisapia said he would ask La Scala's director to organise a memorial concert for Abbado, who was ceremonially named an Italian Senator for Life by President Giorgio Napolitano last August. Abbado's surprise appointment as chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic in 1989 led music critics to call him "the world's most powerful conductor". He also had a 46-year span recording some of the world's most cherished performances for the Deutsche Grammophon label. Born in Milan on June 26, 1933, to a violinist father and a pianist mother, Abbado announced his intention of becoming a conductor when he was eight years old. He earned pocket money as a church organist before joining the Vienna Academy of Music in 1956. In Vienna, Abbado learned an economical style of conducting and Hans Swarovsky taught him to conduct with one hand tied behind his back. Abbado's rhythmic energy, drive and love of big, colourful sound placed him squarely in the tradition of late fellow-Italian Arturo Toscanini. During his time at la Scala, Abbado rejigged the usually staid repertory and encouraged young people and less wealthy music lovers to join the well-heeled crowd in the auditorium. Conservative audience members left their seats in protest at Abbado's addition of avant-garde composers such as Italians Luigi Dallapiccola and the communist Luigi Nono to the repertory. Abbado also worked to support young musicians, becoming founding music director of the European Union Youth Orchestra. "What I like to remember about Abbado is his commitment to fostering young talent," Pisapia said in a statement on Monday. Abbado was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, but recovered and three years later went on to form the Lucerne orchestra, selecting most of the members himself. La Scala was forced to cancel concerts when Abbado succumbed to another bout of illness in May 2010. Abbado also worked in the United States, often serving as guest conductor of the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra in the 1980s. - Reuters, January 20, 2014. |
| ‘Gravity’, ‘12 Years a Slave’ share Hollywood producers’ top prize Posted: 19 Jan 2014 10:17 PM PST The Producers Guild of America has correctly chosen the eventual Academy Award winner for best picture for the last six years, including Iranian hostage drama "Argo" a year ago. A tie is rare. On Saturday, the Screen Actors Guild chose the 1970s-set corruption caper "American Hustle" for its top prize, best ensemble cast. But SAG has a more mixed record on predicting the Oscar. The Academy Awards, the highest honours of the film industry, will be handed out on March 2. - Reuters, January 20, 2014. |
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