Roberto Abbado (born Dec 30, 1954 in Milan, Italy) is an Italian conductor, nephew of the acclaimed pianist and conductor Claudio Abbado. He studied conducting under Franco Ferrara at La Fenice, Venice, and at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia where he became the only student of the academy ever to be asked to conduct the Orchestra di Santa Cecilia. He directed his first opera, Simon Boccanegra, at the age of 23, and during his 20s performed at numerous opera houses in Italy and elsewhere. He has since conducted many operas and orchestras worldwide. He was Chief Conductor of the Munich Radio Orchestra from 1991 to 1998.
