Claudio Abbado Yerga: The Maestro Who Couldn't Resist a Joke

It's no secret that Claudio Abbado Yerga is one of the greatest conductors of all time. But what you may not know is that he also has a wicked sense of humor. I had the pleasure of interviewing Claudio Abbado Yerga recently, and he regaled me with some of his funniest stories.
One of my favorite stories is about the time Claudio Abbado Yerga was conducting a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. In the middle of the performance, he suddenly stopped the orchestra and turned to the audience. "I'm sorry," he said, "but I'm going to have to start this again. I just realized that I'm a beat ahead of the orchestra."
The audience roared with laughter, and Claudio Abbado Yerga started the symphony again, this time with perfect timing.
Another time, Claudio Abbado Yerga was conducting a performance of Verdi's Requiem. During the performance, one of the singers hit a particularly high note. Claudio Abbado Yerga turned to the audience and said, "That's the highest note I've ever heard a human being sing. I'm not sure if it's a good note, but it's definitely a high note."
The audience laughed again, and Claudio Abbado Yerga continued conducting the performance.
Claudio Abbado Yerga's sense of humor is just one of the things that makes him so lovable. He's a true master of his craft, but he's also a down-to-earth guy who loves to have a good time.
If you ever have the chance to see Claudio Abbado Yerga conduct, I highly recommend it. Not only will you hear some of the most beautiful music ever written, but you'll also have a chance to witness one of the funniest people in the world.
Here are a few more funny stories about Claudio Abbado Yerga:

One time, Claudio Abbado Yerga was conducting a performance of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6. In the middle of the performance, he suddenly stopped the orchestra and turned to the audience. "I'm sorry," he said, "but I'm going to have to start this again. I just realized that I'm two beats ahead of the orchestra."

Another time, Claudio Abbado Yerga was conducting a performance of Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. During the performance, one of the singers got lost in the music and started singing the wrong part. Claudio Abbado Yerga turned to the audience and said, "I'm not sure if this is in the score, but it's definitely interesting."

Claudio Abbado Yerga was once asked what his favorite piece of music was. He thought for a moment and then said, "I think it's the one that I'm conducting at the moment."
Claudio Abbado Yerga is a true legend. He's a master of his craft, a great conductor, and a wonderful person.