Claudio Abbado wins Lifetime Achievement Gramophone Award

27 September 2012, 14:35 | Updated: 15 December 2016, 11:50

The conductor adds his name to a list of classical music legends including Sir Charles Mackerras, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Conductor Claudio Abbado has won Gramophone's Lifetime Achievement Award. He did not attend the ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel, but recorded a video to be shown this afternoon, thanking Gramophone Magazine for the honour.

Born in 1933, Abbado made his début at La Scala in Milan in 1960. Throughout his career, he has served as music director at La Scala, conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Vienna State Opera, and principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic.

This is a particularly special year for the conductor. He was voted into the Gramophone Hall of Fame in April, and was awarded the conductor prize at the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards in May.

Among previous winners of this coveted award are some of classical music's legends, including Sir Charles Mackerras, Mstislav Rostropovich, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.