View source for Riccardo Muti

{{Short description|Italian conductor (born 1941)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Riccardo Muti
| honorific_suffix   = [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic|OMRI]] [[Order of St. Gregory the Great|GCSG]]
| image              = Riccardo Muti.jpg
| caption            = Muti in 2008
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1941|7|28|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Naples]], [[Kingdom of Italy]]
| death_date         =
| death_place        =
| years_active       = 1963{{ndash}}present
| occupation         = Conductor
| spouse             = {{marriage|Cristina Mazzavillani|1969}}
| children           = 3
| alma_mater         = [[Music conservatories of Naples|Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella]], Naples<br>[[Milan Conservatory|Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory]], Milan
}}
'''Riccardo Muti''' ({{IPA|it|rikˈkardo ˈmuːti|lang}}; born 28 July 1941) is an Italian conductor.  He is current music director of the [[Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini]]. Muti has previously held posts at the [[Maggio Musicale Fiorentino|Maggio Musicale]] in Florence, the [[Philharmonia Orchestra]] in London, the [[Philadelphia Orchestra]], the [[Teatro alla Scala]] in Milan, the [[Salzburg Whitsun Festival]], and the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]].  He was named Music Director Emeritus in Chicago in 2023. 

A prolific [[#Repertoire and recordings|recording artist]], Muti has received numerous [[#Recognition|honours and awards]], including two [[Grammy Awards]]. He is especially associated with the music of [[Giuseppe Verdi]]. Among the world's leading conductors, in a 2015 ''[[Bachtrack]]'' poll he was ranked by music critics as the world's fifth best living conductor.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pullinger |first=Mark |date=3 September 2015 |title=Chailly and the Berliner Philharmoniker: the critics' choice for World's Best Conductor and Orchestra |work=[[Bachtrack]] |access-date=6 May 2021 |url=https://bachtrack.com/worlds-best-orchestra-best-conductor-critics-choice-september-2015 }}</ref>

==Childhood and education==
[[File:Riccardo Muti Premio Cantelli Teatro Coccia di Novara 1967.jpg|thumb|Riccardo Muti, [[Cantelli Awards|Premio Cantelli]] [[Teatro Coccia]] di Novara, 1967]]
Muti was born in [[Naples]] but he spent his early childhood in [[Molfetta]], near [[Bari]], in the long region of [[Apulia]] on Italy's southern Adriatic coast. His father, Domenico, was a pathologist in Molfetta, as well as an amateur singer and great music lover; his mother, Gilda, was a reserved and severe Neapolitan woman with five children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/news/home/233479/muti-la-mia-infanzia-a-molfetta-quando-in-regalo-ebbi-un-violino.html|title=Muti, la mia infanzia a Molfetta quando in regalo ebbi un violino|website=www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it|date=10 November 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://csosoundsandstories.org/riccardo-muti-recalls-childhood-memories-of-a-caro-nome/|title=Riccardo Muti recalls childhood memories of a 'caro nome'|website=www.csosoundsandstories.org|access-date=24 August 2021|archive-date=3 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003113251/https://csosoundsandstories.org/riccardo-muti-recalls-childhood-memories-of-a-caro-nome/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Muti graduated from [[Liceo classico]] (Classical Lyceum) Vittorio Emanuele II in Naples, then studied piano at the [[Music conservatories of Naples|Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella]] under Vincenzo Vitale; here Muti was awarded a diploma cum laude. He was subsequently awarded a diploma in Composition and Conducting by the [[Milan Conservatory|Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory]], Milan, where he studied with the composer [[Bruno Bettinelli]] and the conductor [[Antonino Votto]]. He has also studied composition with [[Nino Rota]], whom he considers a mentor. He was unanimously awarded first place by the jury of the "[[Cantelli Awards|Guido Cantelli Competition for Conductors]]" in Milan in 1967 and became, the next year, principal conductor and music director of the [[Maggio Musicale Fiorentino]], a post he held for eleven years.

==Career==
===Early career===
Since 1971 he has been a frequent conductor of operas and concerts at the [[Salzburg Festival]], where he is particularly known for his [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] opera performances. From 1972 Muti regularly conducted the [[Philharmonia Orchestra]] in London and in 1973 he was appointed its principal conductor, succeeding [[Otto Klemperer]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jan/31/classicalmusicandopera.shopping | title=Enough! | newspaper=The Guardian | author=Stephen Moss | date=31 January 2005 | access-date=3 June 2007}}</ref>

In 1979, Muti became the music director and principal conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1986, he became principal conductor of the [[Orchestra della Scala|Filarmonica della Scala]], Milan, with which in 1988 he received the [[Viotti International Music Competition|Viotti d'Oro]] and toured Europe. In 1989 he conducted a live performance of Mozart's [[Don Giovanni]] that was recorded on a DVD. In 1991, after twelve years as music director, he announced his resignation from the [[Philadelphia Orchestra]], effective at the end of the 1991–1992 season.

In 1995 he was the president of the jury of the [[International Composing Competition "2 Agosto"]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://concorso2agosto.it/about-us/|title=About Us}}</ref>

===Berlin and Vienna===
Muti has been a regular guest of the [[Berlin Philharmonic]] and the [[Vienna Philharmonic]]. In 1996, he conducted the Vienna Philharmonic during Vienna Festival Week and on tour to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Germany; he most recently toured with the Vienna Philharmonic to Japan in 2008. Muti has also led the orchestra's [[Vienna New Year's Concert]] on seven occasions to date: in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2018, 2021 and 2025.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en/magazin/das-neujahrskonzert-2025-wird-von-maestro-riccardo-muti-geleitet/6209 | title=The New Year's Concert 2025 will be conducted by Maestro Riccardo Muti | work=Wiener Philharmoniker | author=Wiener Philharmoniker | date=1 January 2024 | access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en/newyearsconcert/newyearsconcert2025 | title=New Year's Concert 2025 with Riccardo Muti | work=Wiener Philharmoniker | author=Wiener Philharmoniker | date=1 January 2025 | access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref>

===Work in opera===
Apart from his work at Milan's [[Teatro alla Scala]], where he was music director for 19 years, Muti has led operatic performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra and productions in the principal opera houses of Rome (from 1969), Ravenna, Vienna, London (from 1977), Munich (from 1979), and, finally, in 2010, New York. His work with the [[Vienna State Opera]] has included ''[[Aida]]'' in 1973, ''[[La forza del destino]]'' in 1974, ''[[Norma (opera)|Norma]]'' in 1977, ''[[Rigoletto]]'' in 1983, ''[[Così fan tutte]]'' in 1996 and 2008, ''[[Don Giovanni]]'' in 1999, and ''[[The Marriage of Figaro]]'' in 2001.

===Appearances in Salzburg===
{{update|date=April 2019}}
[[File:Helga Rabl-Stadler with Riccardo Muti picture.jpg|thumb|Salzburg Festival President Helga Rabl-Stadler with Riccardo Muti, 14 August 2016]]
Muti first conducted at the [[Salzburg Festival]] in 1971 with [[Gaetano Donizetti|Donizetti]]'s ''[[Don Pasquale]]'' (staged by Ladislav Stros). Muti has subsequently appeared regularly at the Salzburg Festival, conducting numerous concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic. After the death of [[Herbert von Karajan]] in 1989, he took over the concert Karajan used to give with the Vienna Philharmonic on the [[Assumption of Mary#Assumption of Mary|Feast of the Assumption of Mary]] (15 August), a public holiday in Austria, and was considered by some as his potential successor, although he never assumed any official position.<ref>{{cite news|title=Warum Muti nicht Karajans Thronfolger wurde|language=de|date=15 August 2020|first=Wilhelm|last=Sinkovicz|newspaper=[[Die Presse]]|place=Vienna|issn=2662-0308|url=https://www.diepresse.com/5852973/warum-muti-nicht-karajans-thronfolger-wurde}}</ref>

Opera productions Muti conducted in Salzburg included ''Così fan tutte'' (staged by [[Michael Hampe]]) from 1982 to 1985 and from 1990 to 1991, ''[[La clemenza di Tito]]'' (staged by Peter Brenner) in 1988 and 1989, ''Don Giovanni'' (staged by Michael Hampe) in 1990 and 1991, ''[[La traviata]]'' (staged by Lluis Pasqual, and designed by [[Luciano Damiani]]) in 1995, ''[[The Magic Flute|Die Zauberflöte]]'' in 2005 (staged by [[Graham Vick]]) and 2006 (staged by Pierre Audi, stage designed by [[Karel Appel]]), ''[[Otello]]'' (staged by Stephen Langridge) in 2008, ''[[Moise et Pharaon]]'' (staged by [[Jürgen Flimm]]) in 2009, and ''[[Orfeo ed Euridice]]'' (staged by [[Dieter Dorn]]) in 2010. In 2011, he conducted a new production of [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]'s ''[[Macbeth (Verdi)|Macbeth]]'', which was directed by [[Peter Stein (director)|Peter Stein]].<ref>[http://www3.lastampa.it/musica/sezioni/note-classiche/articolo/lstp/292082/ "Muti : Bring music to prisons"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301210621/http://www3.lastampa.it/musica/sezioni/note-classiche/articolo/lstp/292082/ |date=1 March 2012 }} ''[[La Stampa]]'', 5 August 2010 (in Italian).</ref> For the 2017 Salzburg Festival, he conducted Aida, directed by [[Shirin Neshat]]. Muti also owns a residence close to Salzburg.

From 2007 to 2011, Muti was the artistic director of the [[Salzburg Whitsun Festival]]. He conducted productions of rare Italian operas from the 18th century [[Neapolitan School]] as well as concerts, with the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra, which he had founded.

===Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy===
In July 2015, Riccardo Muti's desire to devote even more to the training of young musicians was realised: the first edition of the Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy for young conductors, répétiteurs and singers took place with great acclaim at Teatro Alighieri in Ravenna and talented young musicians, as well as an audience of music-lovers from around the world participated. The academy has as its purpose to pass on to young musicians Riccardo Muti's experience and lessons and to make the audience understand in its full complexity the path to accomplish an opera production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.riccardomuti.com/en/biografia/|title=Biography}}</ref>

===In the United States===

====Philadelphia and New York====
In the United States, from 1980 to 1992 Muti was music director of the [[Philadelphia Orchestra]], which he led on numerous international tours. In 1979, he was appointed its music director and, in 1992, conductor laureate. Muti stated that his approach was to remain faithful to the intent of the composer. This meant a change from applying the lush "Philadelphia Sound," created by his predecessors [[Eugene Ormandy]] and [[Leopold Stokowski]], to all repertoire; however, many of his recordings with that orchestra largely seem to do away with its hallmark sound, even in the works of such composers as [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]], [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]], and other high romantics. His sonic changes to the orchestra remain controversial. Some felt he turned it into a generic-sounding institution with a lean sound much favoured by modern recording engineers. Others believe Muti uncovered the true intention of the works, which had been covered in a silky sheen by Muti's predecessor. Since his departure from Philadelphia, he has made very few guest conducting appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, once in 2005, and most recently in 2024 conducting Verdi's Requiem.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://parterre.com/2024/11/05/a-requiem-for-the-country/ | title=A Requiem for the Country? | newspaper=Parterre | author=Michael Steinberg | date=5 November 2024 | access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref>

Muti had been a regular and popular guest conductor with the [[New York Philharmonic]]. The orchestra's musicians had reportedly been interested – towards the end of the tenures of [[Kurt Masur]] and [[Lorin Maazel]], and before Muti took the Chicago post – in having the conductor as their music director, but Muti stated that he had no wish to take on the position.<ref>{{cite news | author=Ed Vulliamy | title=How America dropped the baton | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/dec/24/edvulliamy.theobserver | work=The Observer | date=24 December 2000 | access-date=15 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Daniel J. Wakin | title=Philharmonic to Add a Position at the Top | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/arts/music/25phil.html | work=The New York Times | date=25 April 2007 | access-date=15 July 2007}}</ref>

====Chicago====
Muti had first guest-conducted the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]] (CSO) in 1973 at the [[Ravinia Festival]] but did not return as a guest conductor with the CSO until 2007.<ref name="CSO2018">{{cite press release | url=https://csosoundsandstories.org/riccardo-muti-to-remain-cso-music-director-until-2021-22/ | title=Riccardo Muti to remain CSO music director until 2021–22 | publisher=Chicago Symphony Orchestra | date=30 January 2018 | access-date=1 January 2021 | archive-date=17 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417094423/https://csosoundsandstories.org/riccardo-muti-to-remain-cso-music-director-until-2021-22/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>  [[Deborah Rutter]], then president of the CSO saw him in Paris and persuaded him to come guest conduct and tour; he explained later, he thought he was too tired to start a "new adventure", but "immediately it was something that happened between me and the orchestra."<ref name=Wolffe/>

In May 2008, the CSO named Muti its next music director, effective with the 2010–2011 season, with an initial contract of five years.  His most recent contract extension, announced in January 2018, is through the 2021–2022 season.<ref name="CSO2018"/>  In January 2020, the CSO confirmed that Muti is to conclude his music directorship of the orchestra at the close of the 2021–2022 season.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://csosoundsandstories.org/muti-talks-about-20-21-season-also-cavalleria-rusticana-on-wdcb-fm/ | title=Muti talks about '20–21 season, also ''Cavalleria rusticana'', on WDCB-FM | publisher=Chicago Symphony Orchestra | date=28 January 2020 | access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref>  In September 2021, the CSO announced a revision to Muti's contract as its music director, with an extension of the scheduled closing date of his tenure to the end of the 2022–2023 season.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://cso.org/media/fpzepwjk/csoa-news-release-riccardo-muti-contract-extension_09-23-21i.pdf | title=Riccardo Muti extends contract as Music Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra through 2023 | publisher=Chicago Symphony Orchestra | date=23 September 2021 | access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref> Muti announced that he will step down as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the end of the 2022–2023 season.<ref>{{cite news | author=Kyle MacMillan | title=Chicago Symphony Orchestra 2023-24 season ushers in new era |  url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/2/15/23598461/chicago-symphony-orchestra-2023-24-season-ushers-in-new-era | work=Chicago Sun-Times | date=15 February 2023 | access-date=17 April 2023}}</ref> According to classical music critic [[Zachery Wolffe]], his directorship in Chicago was an "enormous success" with "pristine yet intense, powerful yet graceful" performances of operas in concert, canonical orchestral pieces, new premiers, and "rarities of the past".<ref name=Wolffe>{{Cite news |last=Woolfe |first=Zachary |author-link=Zachery Wolffe |date=17 June 2023 |title=For Riccardo Muti, a Grand Sort-of-Finale in Chicago |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/17/arts/music/muti-chicago-symphony-classical-music.html |access-date=9 November 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In June 2023, it was announced that beginning in the 2024–2025 season Muti would be named Music Director Emeritus for life, and continue occasional performances.<ref>{{cite news | author=Lawrence A. Johnson | title=Riccardo Muti honored with new CSO title | url=https://chicagoclassicalreview.com/2023/06/riccardo-muti-honored-with-new-cso-title/ | work=Chicago Classical Review | date = 23 June 2023 | access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref>

===End of tenure in Milan===
In 2003, there were reports of artistic and programming conflicts at [[La Scala]] between musical director and principal conductor Muti and general manager Carlo Fontana.<ref>{{cite news | author=John Hooper | title=Dumbing down row at La Scala | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/sep/16/italy.arts | work=The Guardian | date=16 September 2003 | access-date=15 July 2007}}</ref> Muti did not attend the press conference that announced the 2003–04 season. The appointment in 2003 of Mauro Meli as La Scala's artistic director was intended to calm the conflict between Fontana and Muti.<ref>{{cite news | author=Philip Willan | title=New aria of peace at La Scala | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/13/arts.italy | work=The Guardian | date=13 October 2003 | access-date=15 July 2007}}</ref>

On 24 February 2005, La Scala governors dismissed Fontana as general manager and named Meli as his successor.<ref>{{cite news | author=John Hooper | title=Recriminations fly as crisis engulfs La Scala | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/mar/03/italy.arts | work=The Guardian | date=3 March 2005 | access-date=15 July 2007}}</ref> The musicians sided with Fontana against Muti at this point in the dispute, and on 13 March, Muti stated that he would refuse to conduct the La Scala orchestra from that point on.<ref>{{cite news | author=John Hooper | title=Conductor downs baton at La Scala | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/mar/14/italy.arts | work=The Guardian | date=14 March 2005 | access-date=15 July 2007}}</ref> On 16 March 2005, the orchestra and staff of La Scala voted overwhelmingly against Muti in a motion of no-confidence.<ref>{{cite news | author=John Hooper | title=Staff demand Muti exit in latest La Scala drama | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/mar/17/italy.arts | work=The Guardian | date=17 March 2005 | access-date=15 July 2007}}</ref> Muti was forced to cancel a concert prior to the vote, and some other productions were disrupted at the theatre because of continuing rifts with Fontana's supporters. On 2 April, he resigned from La Scala, citing "hostility" from staff members.<ref>{{cite news | author=Vanessa Thorpe | title=Muti exits after a musical mutiny | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/apr/03/italy.arts | work=The Observer | date=3 April 2005 | access-date=15 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Laura Smith| title=Curtain falls on unhappy Muti at La Scala | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/apr/04/italy.arts | work=The Guardian | date=4 April 2005 | access-date=15 July 2007}}</ref>

In August 2009, Muti was said to be named the next music director of the [[Teatro dell'Opera di Roma]], effective December 2010,<ref>{{cite news | author=Leandro Palestini | title=Riccardo Muti andrà all' Opera di Roma | url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2009/08/20/riccardo-muti-andra-all-opera-di-roma.html | work=La Repubblica | date=20 August 2009 | access-date=22 August 2009}}</ref> but the news given by the mayor (and therefore president of Opera di Roma) [[Gianni Alemanno]] was not true. Alemanno, instead, announced in October 2011 that Muti accepted an invitation by the Orchestra of Opera di Roma to become a "lifetime conductor" of Opera di Roma.<ref>{{cite news | title=Muti all'Opera di Roma 'a vita' | publisher=Il giornale della musica | url=http://www.giornaledellamusica.it/news/?num=109249 | language=it | access-date=12 October 2011}}</ref>

===Political intervention===
On the night of 12 March 2011, [[Rome]]'s [[Teatro dell'Opera di Roma|Teatro dell'Opera]] staged the first in a series of scheduled performances of [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]'s opera ''[[Nabucco]]'', conducted by Muti. After the end of the chorus "[[Va, pensiero]]", which contains the [[libretto|lyrics]] "Oh mia patria, sì bella e perduta" ("Oh my country, so beautiful and so lost"), the audience applauded "heartily." Muti, breaking with opera protocol and the strict conventions of composer Verdi himself,<ref name=opera /> turned to the audience and delivered a small speech, referring to the severe budget cuts announced by the [[Silvio Berlusconi|Berlusconi]] government<ref>{{Cite news|date=1 July 2011|title=Italy Passes $68 Billion in Budget Cuts to Stop Contagion|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-07-01/italy-passes-68-billion-in-budget-cuts|access-date=30 July 2023 |first=Lorenzo |last=Totaro |url-access=subscription}}</ref> which would particularly affect the funding of the arts. He spoke of the need to keep culture alive in Italy, prompted, as he later stated, by the belief that "killing culture in a country like Italy is a crime against society. Culture is the spiritual glue that holds a people together."<ref name=opera>{{Cite web|title=Muti – 'Killing Culture is a Crime' |url=https://www.corriere.it/International/english/articoli/2011/03/14/cappelli-muti-nabucco-protest.shtml |first=Valerio |last=Cappelli |translator-first=Giles |translator-last=Watson |access-date=30 July 2023|website=Corriere della Sera Italian Life}}</ref> He then invited the audience to participate in an [[encore (concert)|encore]] of the "Va, pensiero" chorus – the invitation and the encore also a break from tradition for an opera performance.<ref>{{YouTube|JYcMRUu9lIw|"Va, pensiero"}} Theatro dell'Opera, Rome, Saturday 12 March 2011.</ref> The opera audience stood up and sang along with the on-stage chorus.<ref name=quo>{{Cite web |date=18 March 2011|title=Muti dirige il Nabucco Presenti Napolitano e Berlusconi|language=it|trans-title=Muti conducts Nabucco with Napolitano and Berlusconi present|url=https://www.quotidiano.net/spettacoli/2011/03/18/475745-unita_italia_nabucco.shtml|access-date=30 July 2023|newspaper=[[Quotidiano Nazionale]]}}</ref> Muti recalls that "80 percent of the audience knew the lyrics" and sang along, while "some members of the chorus were in tears."<ref name=opera />

On 18 March, the performance of ''Nabucco'' was repeated in front of the former Italian president [[Giorgio Napolitano]] and former prime minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]]. Muti, who had stated that it had been the first time in his life that he conducted chorus and audience together and also the last,<ref name=opera /> on that occasion conducted the Verdi opera in the "orthodox" manner.<ref name=quo />

==Personal life==
Muti is married to Maria Cristina Mazzavillani, the founder and director of the [[Ravenna Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 June 2011|title=Muti Mazzavillani, la signora del Ravenna Festival: "Così ho fatto crescere la città"|language=it|trans-title=Muti Mazzavillani, lady of the Ravenna Festival: 'That's how I made the city grow'|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2011/06/09/muti-mazzavillani-la-signora-del-ravenna-festival-cosi-ho-fatto-crescere-la-citta/117027/|first=Marilena |last=Spataro |access-date=30 July 2023|website=[[Il Fatto Quotidiano]] Emilia Romagna}}</ref> They have two sons, Domenico and Francesco, and a daughter, Chiara, who is married to the pianist [[David Fray]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://operachic.typepad.com/opera_chic/chiara_muti/|title=Chiara Muti Swans in Fendi for La Scala's Swan Lake|date=25 July 2013|work=Opera Chic|access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref>

In 2010, Muti wrote an autobiography. The following year, it was translated and published in English as ''Riccardo Muti: An Autobiography: First the Music, Then the Words''. Music critic John von Rhein of the ''Chicago Tribune'' described Muti's memoir as "fascinating."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/07/27/muti-book-a-compelling-saga-of-a-rich-life-lived-in-music/|title=Muti book a compelling saga of a rich life lived in music|last=von Rhein|first=John|date=27 July 2011|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref>

==Repertoire and recordings==
{{ external media | float = right |width=230px |audio1 = You may listen to Riccardo Muti conducting [[Gioachino Rossini]]'s opera ''[[William Tell (opera)|William Tell]]'' with [[La Scala]] Opera Orchestra and [[Giorgio Zancanaro]], [[Chris Merritt]] and [[Cheryl Studer]] in 1988 [https://archive.org/details/FridayNightAtTheOpera71511-WilliamTell '''here on archive.org''']}}

With the Philadelphia Orchestra, his recordings include a [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]] symphony cycle, the symphonies of [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]] and [[Alexander Scriabin|Scriabin]], selected works of [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]] and [[Sergei Prokofiev|Prokofiev]], as well as less-known works of composers such as [[Giacomo Puccini|Puccini]] and [[Ferruccio Busoni|Busoni]].

Muti is considered one of the world's greatest conductors of the operas of [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]. He also led a series of annual performances of opera in concerts including the works of Verdi, Puccini, [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] and [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]. In 1992, Muti conducted performances of [[Ruggero Leoncavallo|Leoncavallo]]'s ''[[Pagliacci]]'' with [[Luciano Pavarotti]]. A recording was also made of these performances.

At La Scala, Muti was noted for exploring lesser-known works of the [[Classical period (music)|Classical]]- and early Romantic-era repertory such as ''Lodoiska'' by [[Luigi Cherubini|Cherubini]] and ''[[La vestale]]'' by [[Gaspare Spontini|Spontini]].

==Recognition==
===Honours===
* Muti received several honours from the Italian government: in 1980, he was appointed a Grand Officer of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] and was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the same Order in 1990. He was awarded a Golden Medal of the [[Italian Order of Merit for Culture and Art]] in 1997.<ref>[http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/Onorificenze.aspx?pag=0&qIdOnorificenza=&cognome=Muti&nome=Riccardo&daAnno=1980&aAnno=2011&luogoNascita=&testo=&ordinamento=OCO_ANNO_DECRETO%20DESC,OCO_MESE_DECRETO%20DESC,OCO_GIORNO_DECRETO%20DESC Riccardo Muti's List of Honors] from Italy's Presidential website.</ref>
* Muti is an Honorary Member of the [[Royal Academy of Music]] (Hon RAM) since 1981.<ref>{{cite web|title=Honorary Members (Hon RAM)|url=http://www.ram.ac.uk/public/uploads/documents/be29ec_hon-ram.pdf|website=Royal Academy of Music|access-date=17 October 2015}}</ref>
* In 1989, Muti was elected to the [[American Philosophical Society]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=APS Member History |url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Riccardo+Muti&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced |access-date=26 April 2022 |website=search.amphilsoc.org}}</ref>
* Honorary degree, [[University of Pavia]], 1996.
* Muti was made an honorary Knight Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (KBE) in 2000.<ref name="Honorary Knighthoods">[http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2009/DEP2009-2154.doc List of Knighthoods awarded 1997–2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054124/http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2009/DEP2009-2154.doc |date=1 October 2012 }}, UK Parliament website.</ref>
* Muti was awarded a doctorate ''[[honoris causa]]'' by the [[Universitat de Barcelona]] on 13 October 2003.
* In 2008, Muti was elected to the [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Riccardo Muti |url=https://www.amacad.org/person/riccardo-muti |access-date=26 April 2022 |website=American Academy of Arts & Sciences |language=en}}</ref>
* On 4 June 2010, Muti was appointed a Commander of the [[Legion of Honour]] by then French First Lady [[Carla Bruni-Sarkozy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carlabrunisarkozy.org/fr/riccardo-muti/ |title=Cérémonie de décoration de Riccardo Muti |language=fr |trans-title=Investiture ceremony of Riccardo Muti |website=Carla Bruni Sarkozy |date=4 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317184954/http://www.carlabrunisarkozy.org/fr/riccardo-muti/ |archive-date=17 March 2012}}</ref>
* In 2011, Muti was made a Member of Russia's [[Order of Friendship]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/opera/8386177/Riccardo-Muti-a-profile.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/opera/8386177/Riccardo-Muti-a-profile.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Riccardo Muti: a profile|last=Sweeting|first=Adam|date=16 March 2011|newspaper=[[Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|access-date=23 April 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* In 2012, Muti was made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great by Pope Benedict XVI.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2012-05-11-chi-muti-cso-papal-honor-20120511-story.html |title=Papal honor for CSO's Riccardo Muti |first=John |last=von Rhein |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=11 May 2012 |access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref>
* In 2013, Muti was named Honorary President of [[EMMA for Peace]], a network of music institutions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/Ruben-Zahra-in-Euro-academy-for-peace.491334 |title=Ruben Zahra in Euro academy for peace |last=Bugeja |first=Michael |date=20 October 2013 |work=Times of Malta |access-date=4 November 2019}}</ref>
* On 20 June 2014, Muti received an honorary degree from [[Northwestern University]] in Evanston.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2014/04/riccardo-muti-will-address-class-of-2014.html|title=World-Renowned Conductor to Address Class of 2014: Northwestern University News|website=www.northwestern.edu|access-date=23 May 2016}}</ref>
* On 3 July 2016, Muti was awarded the 2nd Class, Gold and Silver Star of Japan's [[Order of the Rising Sun]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://riccardomutimusic.com/eng/roads-friendship-IT-JP.asp|title=Concert The Roads of Friendship Ravenna-Tokyo|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820213638/http://riccardomutimusic.com/eng/roads-friendship-IT-JP.asp|archive-date=20 August 2016}}</ref>
* On 1 July 2018, Muti was awarded the 3rd Class, [[Order of Merit (Ukraine)]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.president.gov.ua/news/prezident-same-taki-festivali-yak-shlyahi-druzhbi-ce-kulturn-48422|script-title=uk:Президент: Саме такі фестивалі як «Шляхи дружби» – це культурний зв'язок і свідчення повернення України до Європи|website=www.president.gov.ua|access-date=1 July 2018|language=uk}}</ref>

===Awards===
* 2010 [[Grammy Awards]] (2) for [[Grammy Award for Best Classical Album|Best Classical Album]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance|Best Choral Performance]] for ''[[Requiem (Verdi)|Verdi: Requiem]]'' <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/53rd-annual-grammy-awards-2010|title=53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards|date=28 November 2017|website=GRAMMY.com}}</ref>
* 2011 [[Birgit Nilsson Prize]]<ref name="Nilssonprize">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.birgitnilssonprize.org/index.php/Recipient-2011-2.html
 |title       = The Birgit Nilsson Prize 2011 recipient
 |access-date  = 16 March 2011
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725074837/http://www.birgitnilssonprize.org/index.php/Recipient-2011-2.html
 |archive-date = 25 July 2011
}}</ref>
* 2011 [[Prince of Asturias Award]] for the Arts.
* 2018 [[Praemium Imperiale]]<ref>{{cite news |date=11 July 2018 |title=Riccardo Muti receives Praemium Imperiale Award |url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/riccardo-muti-receives-praemium-imperiale-award |work=[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]] |location=London |access-date=17 July 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{official website|http://www.riccardomuti.com}} {{in lang|it|en}}
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=q41954}}
* {{IMDb name|0616120}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310222337/http://www.sonybmgmasterworks.com/artists/riccardomuti/ Riccardo Muti biography] at [[Sony BMG Masterworks]]

{{s-start}}
{{s-culture}}
{{succession box | title=[[La Scala|Music Director, Teatro alla Scala]] | before=[[Claudio Abbado]] | years=1986–2005 | after=[[Daniel Barenboim]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Wolf Prize in Arts}}
{{Philharmonia conductors}}
{{PhilOrch music directors}}
{{CSO music directors}}
{{Gramophone Hall of Fame}}
{{Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts}}

{{Portal bar|Classical music|opera|music}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muti, Riccardo}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian conductors (music)]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Italian conductors (music)]]
[[Category:21st-century Italian male musicians]]
[[Category:Conductors (music) awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Honorary members of the Royal Academy of Music]]
[[Category:Italian male conductors (music)]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory the Great]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Milan Conservatory alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Milan Conservatory]]
[[Category:Music directors (opera)]]
[[Category:Musicians from Naples]]
[[Category:United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees goodwill ambassadors]]
[[Category:Music directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra]]
[[Category:Music directors of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra]]
[[Category:Principal conductors of the Philharmonia Orchestra]]
[[Category:Wolf Prize in Arts laureates]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Praemium Imperiale]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd class]]
[[Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Italian Order of Merit for Culture and Art]]