Antonello Manacorda, born in Turin, was founding member and longtime concertmaster of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra founded by Claudio Abbado. He later studied conducting with Jorma Panula in Helsinki and has established himself as a highly sought-after conductor, both on the symphonic and on the operatic stage. Since 2010 Antonello Manacorda is Artistic Director of the Kammerakademie Potsdam. He makes is home in Berlin.