Italian conductor, born in Milan. Principal conductor of the [a=Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia] in Rome, Italy from 1992 to 1997; principal guest conductor at the [l=Royal Opera House], Covent Garden, UK from 1994 to 1997; musical director of the [url=http://www.discogs.com] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra[/url] from 1996 to 2009; musical director of the [l=Teatro Comunale di Bologna] from 1997 to 2007); principal conductor at the Zurich Opera House from 2009 to 2012 and musical director of the [a=Orchestre National De France] since September 2008.