Italian conductor, born in Milan. Principal conductor of the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy from 1992 to 1997; principal guest conductor at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, UK from 1994 to 1997; musical director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from 1996 to 2009; musical director of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna from 1997 to 2007); principal conductor at the Zurich Opera House from 2009 to 2012 and musical director of the Orchestre National De France since September 2008. Chief conductor of Concertgebouworkest from 2016 to 2018.