Muti, Riccardo << MOO tee, reek KAHR doh >> (1941-…), is a leading Italian symphony orchestra and opera conductor. Muti gained an international reputation for his musicianship and his command of a broad range of the instrumental and operatic repertory. He served as music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1980 to 1992. During his years in Philadelphia, he became noted for his concert performances of operas and for commissioning new works by major modern composers, including Luciano Berio of Italy and William Bolcom and Shulamit Ran of the United States.
Muti was born on July 28, 1941, in Naples and studied composition and piano in Italy. He made his professional debut as a conductor in 1968 with RAI, the Italian radio and television network. He soon was in demand as a guest conductor. In 1969, Muti was appointed principal conductor of the Maggio Musicale in Florence, Italy. He made his United States debut in 1972 with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Muti served as principal conductor of the New Philharmonia (called the Philharmonia beginning in 1977) in London from 1973 to 1982. He was the music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 2010 to 2023. In 2023, he became the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director Emeritus for Life.
Muti has conducted at leading opera houses, such as the Vienna State Opera in Austria and Covent Garden in London. He served as music director at the La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy, for 19 years before resigning in 2005. He has also won acclaim for his many recordings of operas.
