He is currently music director of the Royal Opera House[2] and chief conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Pappano's family had relocated to England from Castelfranco in Miscano near Benevento, Italy, in 1958, and at the time of his birth his parents worked in the restaurant business.

After musical training in piano, composition, and conducting, he became a rehearsal accompanist at the New York City Opera at the age of 21.

[5] Pappano attracted the attention of fellow pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim, and became his assistant at the Bayreuth Festival.

At Covent Garden, Pappano and Kasper Holten, the ROH Director of Opera, shared responsibility for production.

[11] BBC Radio broadcast in 2017 an hour-long documentary of Pappano's preparation of a new production of La bohème at the Royal Opera House.

[4] He was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services at the coronation.