| 1 | Name: | Mr. Riccardo Muti | |
| Institution: | Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini | ||
| Year Elected: | 1989 | ||
| Class: | 5. The Arts, Professions, and Leaders in Public & Private Affairs | ||
| Subdivision: | 501. Creative Artists | ||
| Residency: | International | ||
| Living? : | Living | ||
| Birth Date: | 1941 | ||
Born in Naples, Italy in 1941, conductor Riccardo Muti is the music director of both the Chicago Symphony and the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. He assumed both posts at the beginning of the 2010-11 season. Maestro Muti previously served as music director of both the Philadelphia Orchestra (1980-92) and Milan's La Scala Opera House (1986-2005) during his distinguished career. As a young conductor, he won the Cantelli Prize in 1967 and went on to become principal director and music director of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (1968-80). Additionally, in 2011, he won the $1 million Birgit Nilsson Prize for his "extraordinary contributions" to the music world. He began regularly conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra in London in 1972 and has also been a frequent guest of the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics and at the Salzburg Festival, where he is held in high esteem for his performances of Mozart operas. He is also considered to be one of the greatest conductors of the operas of Guiseppe Verdi. Educated at the University of Naples and Verdi Milan Conservatory, Mr. Muti is the recipient of numerous international prizes for recordings and an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music. In 2011, he won the presigious OPERA NEWS Award presented by the Metropolitan Opera Guild as well as the Prince Asturias Prize for Arts and in 2012 he was awarded the McKim Medal by the American Academy in Rome. He was honored by the government of Japan with Order of the Rising Sun Gold and Silver Star in 2016. | |||