The complete idiot's guide to classical music (69 page)

Pinchas Zukerman
(b. 1948) Israeli violinist, violist, and conductor. Under the guidance of Isaac Stern and Pablo Casals, among others, Zukerman came to study in the U.S. in 1962, and embarked upon his solo career in 1967. His extensive Grammy-winning discography numbers more than 90 releases, encompassing the violin and viola repertoire. He has performed solo and has collaborated with some of the world’s most distinguished musicians in chamber music. Since 1970 he has conducted many of the world’s leading orchestras.

Did you hear about the maestro who murdered his first violinist and was sentenced to the electric chair? They turned on the power and nothing happened. They tried it again with higher voltage. Still nothing. Finally, they called in an electrician, who explained the problem. “That person,” he said simply, “is a non-conductor.” Fortunately, we have a bountiful supply of conductors who do indeed stir up a lot of electricity at their concerts; herewith another list of two dozen or so musicians who are continuing to put their distinctive stamp on contemporary music-making around the world.

Claudio Abbado
(b. 1933) Italian conductor. Abbado made his debut at La Scala in 1960 and served as its music director director from 1968 to 1986, conducting not only the traditional Italian repertoire, but presenting a contemporary opera each year as well as concert series dedicated to the works of Berg and Mussorgsky. While at La Scala, he founded the Orchestra della Scala, an ensemble organized to perform orchestral works in concert. In 1989 he became Artistic Director of the Berlin Philharmonic, which he conducted for the first time in 1966. He shows deep commitment to developing the talent of young people and is founder and music director of the European Community Youth Orchestra and the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, and has organized an international composers’ competition in Vienna. He has received numerous awards as well as acclaim for his extensive discography.

Vladimir Ashkenazy
(b. 1937) Icelandic pianist and conductor of Russian origin. Ashkenazy made his debut in Moscow in 1945, and after competition successes, achieved international acclaim. He is a passionate interpreter of Russian music (notably Rachmananoff), and brings warmth and sensitivity to the romantic repertoire as well as to Mozart. In 1981, he was appointed principal guest conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, and from 1987 on, he has been music director of the Royal Philharmonic, as well as principal guest conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, and chief conductor of the Berlin Radio Symphony since 1989. He is noted as a sensitive conductor of 19th and 20th century music.

Daniel Barenboim
(b. 1942) Israeli conductor and pianist. Barenboim received international acclaim in the 1950s for his solo piano recitals, and in 1957 made his conducting debut in Haifa. As a pianist, he favors the Classical balance of form and thematic content over romantic passion; as a conductor, he is an excellent interpreter of romantic composers, most notably Anton Bruckner. He has appeared on the podium with many major orchestras, and in 1989 he became Solti’s successor as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Sir Colin Davis
(b. 1927) English conductor. One of the world’s foremost conductors, Davis began his work with ballet and opera companies, followed by an appointment in 1957 with the BBC Scottish Orchestra. He has conducted at the Metropolitan Opera, as well as served as music director at Covent Garden and appeared with a number of prominent orchestras. His enthusiastic advocacy of Mozart, Berlioz, Stravinsky, and Tippett have won him a youthful following.

Charles Dutoit
(b. 1936) Swiss conductor. Dutoit made his conducting debut with the Bern Symphony Orchestra in 1963 and was engaged as music director (1967–77). After holding several prestigious posts, he became music director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in 1977; there he greatly expanded the orchestra’s repertoire of the classics, especially French music such as Debussy, Ravel, and Berlioz; he promotes new Canadian music as well. He has served with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and in 1987 he made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera. He was named Chief Conductor of the Orchestra National de France in Paris in 1990.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt
(b. 1929). Austrian conductor and cellist. In 1953, Harnoncourt and his wife Alice founded the Concentus music directorus Wien, which quickly became one of the most respected ensembles specializing in the performance of early music on original instruments, and noted for their performances of Monteverdi operas, Bach’s choral and orchestral music, and the Viennese classics. Since 1992, he has been a regular conductor at the Salzburg Festival, and is a sought-after conductor with many major orchestras.

Christopher Hogwood
(b. 1941) English harpsichordist, conductor, and musicologist. In 1967, Hogwood was instrumental in organizing the Early music director Consort, an ensemble devoted to performing medieval music. In 1973 he founded the Academy of Ancient music director with the aim of performing music of the Baroque and early Classical periods on original instruments; he toured widely with the ensemble and made many recordings, including a complete set of Mozart symphonies. He has also served as artistic director of the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston and music director of the St. Paul (Minnesota) Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared as guest conductor throughout Europe and North America.

Neeme Jarve
(b. 1937) Estonian conductor. Jarve’s successful conducting career has taken him from his native Estonia to Leningrad, to continental Europe, Great Britain, and finally the U.S., where in 1990 he became music director of the Detroit Symphony. His guest engagements have taken him to the major musical capitals, and he is especially noted for championing the works of rarely performed composers in the concert setting and on recording.

James Levine
(b. 1943) American conductor and pianist. Since his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1971, Levine has gone on to become its first artistic director (1986), and has developed the orchestra and chorus to an unprededented level of achievement, excellence, and public recognition. He performs each year with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival and on tour, and works with a number of prestigious orchestras. He was the first recipient of the annual cultural award of the City of New York.

Andrew Litton
(b. 1959) American conductor and pianist. In 1994, Andrew Litton became music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and one of the very few Americans to head a major American orchestra. Before Dallas, he served six years as principal conductor and artistic advisor of the Bournemouth Symphony, gaining tremendous international acclaim. Litton was born and educated in New York, obtaining degrees in piano and conducting at Juilliard. Upon his graduation, he joined Mstislav Rostropovich as assistant conductor of the National Symphony, Washington, D.C. As a pianist, Litton made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1978 as winner of the 25th Anniversary William Kappel Memorial Piano competition. As a conductor, he often conducts from the keyboard.

Kurt Masur
(b. 1927) German conductor. Masur’s celebrated career includes his 20-year tenure as music director of the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig, as well as his appointment as music director of the New York Philharmonic, which began with the 1992–93 season. Much of his career evolved under the shadow of the Berlin Wall and he made groundbreaking history in 1974 when the Gewandus became the first East German ensemble to appear in the U.S., the same year he appeared with the Cleveland Orchestra, and his international reputation grew during the 1980s. He is renowned for his detail, clarity, exacting musicianship, and distinct musical ideas.

Zubin Mehta
(b. 1936). Indian conductor. His father, Mehli Mehta, was cofounder of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra. At the age of 25, Mehta conducted concerts with the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras, to both of which he has returned annually ever since. He held the longest tenure of any music director in the history of the New York Philharmonic (1978–91), and is now music director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic. Among his many impressive triumphs, in 1994 he courageously conducted the Sarajevo Symphony in a requiem concert held in the devastated ruins of the Sarajevo National Library. He has conducted the Three Tenors Concerts, and has an extensive discography. The romantic and late-romantic repertoires rank as his specialty.

Riccardo Muti
(b. 1941) Italian conductor. Muti has served as music director of the Teatro alla Scala since 1986 and was music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1980 to 1992; he was named Conductor Laureate of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1992. From 1968 to 1980 he was principal director and music director of the Florence Maggio music directorale Festival, and in 1972 he scored a triumph as conductor of the London Philharmonia. He has graced both concert and operatic podiums, and since 1971 has participated in the Salzburg Festival conducting operas and concerts. He has received numerous honors for his recordings and is known for his lively vitality and expressiveness.

Martin Neary
English organist and conductor. He has been organist and Master of Choristers of Westminster Abbey since 1988. He began his musical career as a chorister at the Chapel Royal; and as organist of Winchester Cathedral, he became known as an innovative choral conductor, expanding the repertoire of the choir and directing it in many performances of Baroque and contemporary music. He has toured throughout the world as organ recitalist and as conductor.

Sir Neville Marriner
(b. 1924) English conductor. Marriner began his career as a violinist with major British orchestras, and was encouraged in his conducting by Pierre Monteux. In 1958, he founded the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, which under his direction, achieved an acclaimed international reputation. He has served as guest conductor and music director with a number of prestigious orchestras and chamber ensembles, and displays an amazing repertoire encompassing works from Baroque to contemporary. He is noted for impeccable taste, clarity, and superb detail.

Seiji Ozawa
(b. 1935) Japanese conductor. Ozawa studied Western music as a child, graduating from Tokyo’s Toho School of music director with first prizes in composition and conducting. His mentors have been Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein, and he has conducted the New York Philharmonic, along with other major American and European orchestras. In 1973 he was appointed music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He continues to appear as guest conductor on the most prestigious podiums.

Simon Rattle
(b. 1955) British conductor. After studying at the Royal Academy of Music, he won a conducting competition in Bournemouth where he subsequently conducted several concerts. In 1975, he was made associate conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and four years later he became principal conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. His work with the CBSO brought the orchestra to new heights. He gained a well-earned reputation as an innovator, exalting the 20th century repertoire from Mahler to Gershwin (his Glyndebourne recording of
Porgy and Bess
won
Gramophone
magazine’s prestigious “Opera Recording of the Year” award), as well as conducting at Glyndebourne with period-instrument orchestras. Among his recording credits is the best-selling film score to Kenneth Branagh’s
Henry V
. In 1987, Queen Elizabeth made Simon Rattle a C.B.E. for his services to music. In June 1994, he became Sir Simon.

Esa-Pekka Salonen
(b. 1958) Finnish conductor and composer. Since 1985, Salonen has been principal conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London. As a result of a triumphant series of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, he was invited to become music director director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the youngest in the orchestra’s history. He is a champion of 20th century music, and his own compositions, which include orchestral works and chamber music, combine modern techniques and traditional tonality.

Robert Shaw
(b. 1916) American conductor. While conducting major symphony orchestras, in 1948 Shaw formed the Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra, which became the premier American touring choral group. After serving with the San Diego Symphony and Cleveland Orchestras, he became music director of the Atlanta Symphony in 1967. Under his direction, it became a major symphony orchestra, earning international acclaim. Since 1988 he has been Music Director Emeritus and Conductor Laureate of the Atlanta Symphony, and he continues to appear as guest conductor with many orchestras. He is an educator and key contributor to fostering the talent of young conductors.

Leonard Slatkin
(b. 1944) American conductor. One of the outstanding American conductors, Slatkin debuted with the Chicago Symphony and the New York Philharmonic in the early 1970s, and has been guest conductor with the world’s leading orchestras, at opera houses as well as concert podiums. After serving as music director of the St. Louis Symphony for many years, he is now its Conductor Laureate, and is music director of the National Symphony as of the 1996–97 season. He is known for his championship of 20th century music, especially American, Russian, and British composers, and has a strong continuing commitment to arts education and to reaching diverse audiences.

Sir Georg Solti
(b. 1912) English conductor of Hungarian origin. In 1937, Toscanini chose Solti to be his assistant at the Slaburg Festival—the start of a highly illustrious career. After appointments with the Bavarian State Opera and Frankfort Opera, his next stop was London, where he served as principal conductor and music director of the Royal Opera House (1961–71) and principal conductor and artistic director of the London Symphony (1979–84). To Americans, he is best-known as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a post he held for a remarkable 22 years. He was instrumental in extending and enhancing the orchestra’s international reputation. He is a peerless conductor of Richard Strauss and his discography includes a selection of Strauss masterpieces.