Arise Sir Tony!

Congratulations to Classic Brit Antonio Pappano, who has been knighted in the New Year Honours List for services to Music.

Comments

[Kath]

Yay! This man is an inspiration, his passion for opera shines through in everthing I have seen of his .Well done Sir Tony!

[Michael]

Win.
Well deserved too - well done, Sir Toni :) :)

[hippoes]

I don't understand music enough to be able to judge his work as a conductor, much less as a music director, but over the years I have noticed that when he is in the pit it all sounds 'better' to my ears.
But mostly, I'd watch him for hours on TV, or various clips, overwhelming me with his passion and genuine enthusiasm. I'd love to spend two hours with him!
He may very well be the only (still breathing) Italian I admire (I'm a fellow Italian expat - by choice).
No idea if deserved or not, but happy for him. He'll just be SAP from now on.

[Tone]

Whas-sap!

[Kath]

@hippoes Have you seen his series on Opera Italia? You can find it on You Tube

[yvette]

Brilliant and well deserved! Lucky you are at the ROH! He really understands what is going on in the pit and is wonderful to listen to when he 'explains' his passion for a score. Above all, he loves voices and singers.

[Jane Clay]

So pleased for Antonio Pappano, he is a wonderful conductor and was fantastic to watch on his TV programmes he certainly has the ability to draw you into his passion for the music.

[amac]

Not much of a surprise really - probably a bit over due in coming though. Musical Directors of ROH are usually knighted. Haintink was honorary "KBE" but never "Sir" as he wasn't British.

Is he actually a British Citizen ? I know he was born in London but those yanky boys might have made him give it up !

[Liane Bierau]

I am also extremely pleased for him. His enthusiasm is unique and extremely catching and appealing. It is such a pleasure to see him conducting and smiling and laughing in his programs on Telly and also when he takes his credits on the stage.Whenever I look at him he makes me feel happy. Congratuoations and may he stay in London forever.

[Nikolaus Vogel]

Pappano has three passports - US, British and Italian. So he's a third British! Solti changed his nationality in order to get his knighthood - and he was pretty browned off with Hungary anyway (he must be rolling in his grave at the present fascist-lite government) - but Tony P was born here, so he is entitled to British citizenship and a very well-deserved gong.

Liane - well said. He's transformed musical standards and morale at the ROH. Unless he decided to call it a day as the artistic head of any opera house, I can't see him leaving London any time soon. Where for? Not the Met, and La Scala is both an organisational nightmare and a minefield as far as the public are concerned. He may have an Italian name, but the fact that he isn't a "real" Italian could prove a drawback there.