Italian conductor Claudio Abbado has died at age 80, after a long battle with stomach cancer. Born in Milan, Abbado made his debut at La Scala in 1960, and served as its music director from 1968-1986. After that, he became the music director of the Vienna State Opera until 1991. I’ve included what I think is an apt look back at the great maestro Abbado: his conducting of the Prelude to Verdi’s Macbeth, La Scala, 1975.

For a more detailed story, head to the James Lachno’s article for the Telegraph.