Claudio Abbado made his debut in 1960 at La Scala theatre in Milan, where he was musical director from 1968 to 1986. From 1986 to 1991 he was musical director of the Vienna Staatsoper and has been "Generalmusikdirektor" of the city of Vienna since 1987.
In 1988 he founded the Wien Modern Festival, a contemporary music event which expanded to include different aspects of contemporary art since 1991, also an international competition for young composers. He conducted the Berliner Philharmoniker for the first time in 1966. In 1989 the Berlin Philharmonic elected him as artistic director. Since then, 20th century music has regularly been included in the orchestra’s concert programs alongside the classical and romantic repertoire.
In 1994 he was appointed director of the Salzburg Easter Festival where, in addition to the opera productions and symphony concerts, he introduced a contemporary chamber music cycle, and awards for composition and literature.
Claudio Abbado has always been a supporter of young talent. In 1978 he founded the European Community Youth Orchestra, in 1981 the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and in 1986 the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester from which the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, now resident in Ferrara, was formed.