Riccardo Muti and the Philharmonia: a timeline
Riccardo Muti was the Philharmonia’s Principal Conductor from 1972 until 1982. We explored our archives to find out more about Maestro’s history and relationship with the Orchestra.
1941
28 July
Riccardo Muti is born in Naples
1945
27 October
The Philharmonia Orchestra gives its first concert
1972
2 and 3 December
Muti conducts the Philharmonia for the first time, at Fairfield Halls in Croydon and at the Royal Festival Hall. Beethoven, Brahms and Mussorgsky are on the programme for his London debut
The Philharmonia players invite Muti to become their next Principal Conductor, succeeding Otto Klemper
1973
5 and 6 September
Muti gives his first concerts as Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia at the Edinburgh Festival, featuring music by Vivaldi, Cherubini and Franck
1974
12 February
Muti conducts Verdi’s Requiem with the Philharmonia for the first time – he returns to the piece in 1978, 2007, 2008 and 2025, more than half a century later
Verdi’s Aida is the first of many acclaimed recordings of operatic and symphonic repertoire by Muti and the Philharmonia
10 – 12 June
Muti takes the Philharmonia to La Scala, Milan, on his first international tour with the orchestra
1975
28 September
Muti conducts Stravinsky’s The Firebird and Orff’s Carmina Burana to mark the Philharmonia’s 30th anniversary
1978
15 April
On an overnight ferry to Sicily for the final concert of a tour of Italy, Muti and the orchestra experience an earthquake and a Force 9 gale
1979
20 June – 3 July
Muti conducts four all-Tchaikovsky concerts at the Royal Festival Hall in memory of Walter Legge, founder of the Philharmonia
1980
1 – 13 October
Muti and the Philharmonia tour the US and Canada, including concerts in Ottawa, Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, Washington and New York
1981
2 July
Muti conducts a concert at the Royal Festival Hall attended by HRH The Prince of Wales, featuring music by Beethoven and Tchaikovsky
1982
Muti steps down as Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia, but continues to conduct the orchestra regularly in London and on tour
2000
Muti is made a KBE by Queen Elizabeth II
2010
23 – 30 March
A European tour – including a return to Sicily – leads up to the Philharmonia’s all-Beethoven 65th anniversary concert at the Royal Festival Hall
2020
10 December
Muti’s planned return to the Philharmonia is cancelled due to the Covid pandemic
2025
27 March
Muti returns to the Philharmonia Orchestra for a sold-out concert of Verdi’s Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall