Known for his temper and his talent, famous Italian conductor Riccardo Muti won two Grammys on Sunday night.
Muti was awarded two of the top prizes in the Grammys’ classical music category. The maestro’s recording of Verdi's "Requiem", with the Chicago Symphony and choir, won the prizes for best classical album as well as best choral performance.
Unfortunately, the famed conductor could not be there to accept the tributes in person. The 69-year-old was told of his Grammy success in the hospital, where he is recovering from a recent fall and healing after pacemaker surgery.
While Sunday’s awards are indeed Riccardo Muti’s first Grammys, these prizes come after a long and illustrious career. Muti is best known for serving as musical director at Milano’s La Scala Opera House from 1986 – 2005. During his career he has directed the most prestigious orchestras in the world: the Berlin Philharmonic at the Bayerischen Rundfunk, the New York Philharmonic, the Orchestre National de France, the Philharmonia of London and the Wiener Philharmoniker.
An honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music since 1981, he was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE in 2000 and in 2003
he was awarded a doctorate honoris causa by the Universitat de Barcelona.
Considered one of the world's greatest conductors of the operas of Giuseppe Verdi, Muti currently directs the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
AUGURI MAESTRO!
Do not miss the video below with the Maestro working with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Verdi's Requiem.
