outstanding Italian conductor; b. Milan, June 26, 1933. Abbado received early music training from his father, then enrolled in the Milan Conservatory, graduating in 1955 in piano. He made his conducting debut in Trieste, Italy, in 1958 and made his American conducting debut in N.Y. on Apr. 7, 1963. Abbado has subsequently conducted many major orchestras around the world. In 1989 he was named artistic director of the Berlin Philharmonic. Abbado has conducted distinguished performances ranging from the Classical era to the most modern works. His brother Marcello Abbado (b. Milan, Oct. 7, 1926) is a respected pianist and composer.