Biography

Italian conductor who studied the viola and composition at the Accademia di S Cecilia, Rome. He won awards from the Vienna Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde and the International Mahler and Bruckner Societies, received the first Verdi Medal from the London Amici di Verdi in 1988, and in 1990 the Medal of Honour from the City of Vienna.

Music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, 1978-1984.

In 1928, the distinguished Italian violinist/composer Remy Principe (1889-1977) gave a recital in Bolzano, and auditioned Giulini; he invited Giulini to study with him at Italy's foremost conservatory, the Conservatorio Santa Cecilia in Rome. Giulini undertook his studies there two years later, at the age of 16. He studied viola with Principe, composition with Alessandro Bustini (1876-1970), and conducting with Bernardino Molinari.

As the war was ending, he hid until the liberation to avoid continuing to fight alongside the Germans. While in hiding, he married his girlfriend, Marcella, and they remained together until her death in 1995.

He was music director of the Vienna Symphony from 1973 to 1976. From 1978 to 1984, he served as principal conductor and music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, launching his tenure there with performances of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. In 1982 he returned once more to opera, conducting a widely acclaimed production of Verdi's Falstaff with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.