Carlo Maria Giulini

Carlo Maria Giulini (9 May 1914 – 14 June 2005) was an Italian conductor distinguished for his serene, spiritually infused interpretations of symphonic and operatic works, especially those of Verdi, Beethoven, and Bruckner. Born in Barletta, he began studying violin at age five, later switching to viola and joining the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome at eighteen. Giulini made his professional conducting debut in 1944 with the Augusteo Orchestra in Rome, during which time he refused to perform fascist marches and went into hiding to avoid conscription into Mussolini's army. He rose to prominence as music director of La Scala in Milan from 1953, succeeding Victor de Sabata, where he oversaw notable revivals of Verdi's operas and collaborated closely with Maria Callas on roles like Violetta in La Traviata. Later, he held positions including principal guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1969–1972) and music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (1978–1984), while guest-conducting major ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Deeply influenced by his Catholic faith, Giulini's perfectionist style led him to reject stage productions conflicting with his vision, such as a 1966 Figaro at the Holland Festival, and he largely ceased opera conducting after the late 1960s to preserve artistic integrity amid liturgical changes following Vatican II.