Musical conductor, born in Milan, Italy. From a distinguished musical family, he began training in piano, composition, and conducting. He made his British debut in Manchester (1965), was conductor and director at La Scala, Milan (1968--86), and principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra (1979--87). He became principal conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 1971, musical director of the Vienna State Opera in 1986--91, and principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 1989. In 1994 he was artistic director of the Salzburg Easter Festival and triumphed with a spectacular postmodern production of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov.