Carlos Kleiber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carlos Kleiber
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| Born |
Karl Ludwig Bonifacius Kleiber
3 July 1930 Berlin, Germany
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| Died | 13 July 2004 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Education | Chemistry |
| Alma mater | ETH Zurich |
| Occupation | Conductor |
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Carlos Luis Bonifacio Kleiber (born July 3, 1930 – died July 13, 2004) was a famous conductor from Austria. Many people think he was one of the greatest conductors ever.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Carlos Kleiber was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1930. His birth name was Karl Ludwig Bonifacius Kleiber. His father, Erich Kleiber, was also a very famous conductor. His mother, Ruth Goodrich, was from the United States.
In 1935, when Carlos was young, his family moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina. That's when his name was changed from Karl to Carlos. He grew up learning English and went to English boarding schools. He also enjoyed music, composing his own pieces, singing, and playing the piano and timpani (a type of drum).
Even though his father saw Carlos's musical talent, he didn't want him to become a musician. His father once wrote, "What a pity the boy is musically talented."
Carlos first studied chemistry at ETH Zurich university. But he soon decided that music was his true passion. In 1952, he started working at the Gärtnerplatz Theatre in Munich. He was a répétiteur, which means he helped singers practice their parts.
His first time conducting an orchestra was in 1954. He led the operetta Gasparone at the Potsdam theatre. From 1958 to 1964, he worked as a Kapellmeister (a music director) at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf and Duisburg. After that, he worked at the Opera in Zurich from 1964 to 1966. His last full-time job was in Stuttgart from 1966 to 1973. Later, he often conducted at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.
During his time in Düsseldorf, he conducted many operas. These included La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi and La bohème by Giacomo Puccini. He also conducted Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss and The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár.
A Career of Special Performances
After his full-time jobs, Carlos Kleiber chose to conduct only for special events. He didn't perform very often. His first performance in Britain was in 1966 at the Edinburgh International Festival. There, he conducted Wozzeck, an opera his father had first conducted many years before.
At the Royal Opera House in London, he conducted operas like Der Rosenkavalier and La bohème. In 1974, he made his first appearance at the famous Bayreuth Festspielhaus in Germany, conducting Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde.
His first time conducting in America was in 1978 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He only conducted for US orchestras twice. In 1988, he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He conducted La bohème with famous singers like Luciano Pavarotti and Mirella Freni.
In 1989, he was asked to become the music director of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra. This was after Herbert von Karajan left the role. But Carlos Kleiber said no. He returned to the Met in 1989 and 1990 to conduct more operas.
Carlos Kleiber liked to stay out of the public eye. He rarely gave interviews. After he left the Bavarian State Opera, he performed even less often. He also made only a few studio recordings.
Even though he made few recordings, they are highly praised. Some of his famous recordings include Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth and Seventh symphonies with the Vienna Philharmonic. He also recorded Johannes Brahms's Fourth Symphony and Franz Schubert's Third and Eighth ("Unfinished") symphonies. His last studio recording was Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde.
Many live recordings of his performances have also been released. These include his two Vienna New Year's Concerts. One special recording was of Beethoven's Sixth Symphony. It was the only time Kleiber conducted this work, and the recording came from a cassette tape made for his son.
Later Years and Lasting Impact
Carlos Kleiber stopped performing regularly in the early 1990s. He would sometimes appear for private concerts or concerts to raise money for good causes. For one such event, he was partly paid with a new Audi car made just for him.
His performances were carefully planned and practiced. Yet, they often felt fresh and exciting. Many musicians and audiences believed he was a unique genius. They thought he was one of the greatest conductors of all time, even though he didn't perform very often.
He passed away in 2004 and was buried in the village of Konjšica in Slovenia. He was buried next to his wife, Stanislava Brezovar, who was a ballet dancer. She had passed away seven months before him. They had two children, a son named Marko and a daughter named Lillian.
Preserved Performances
Carlos Kleiber's special way of conducting can be seen in many video recordings. These include:
- Beethoven's Fourth and Seventh Symphonies from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
- Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaus from Munich.
- Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier from both Munich and Vienna.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 36th Symphony and Brahms' Second Symphony from the Musikverein in Vienna.
- Beethoven's Coriolan Overture, Mozart's 33rd, and Brahms' Fourth Symphonies from Munich.
- Bizet's Carmen from Vienna.
He also led the famous Vienna New Year's Concert in 1989 and 1992, and these performances are also available on video.
Legacy and Honors
Documentaries About Kleiber
Many documentaries have been made to celebrate Carlos Kleiber's life and work.
- In 2008, an Italian radio program called Il Sorriso della Musica (The Smile of Music) had 10 episodes about him. Famous conductors like Claudio Abbado said Kleiber was "one of the greatest, if not the greatest, conductors of the 20th century."
- In 2009, BBC Radio 3 aired a documentary called Who Was Carlos Kleiber?. It included interviews with people who knew him well, like singer Plácido Domingo.
- In 2014, a two-hour documentary called Carlos Kleiber: A Conductor Unlike Any Other was released. It featured interviews with singers and orchestra members who worked with him.
Awards and Recognition
Carlos Kleiber received many honors for his musical talent.
- On June 21, 2010, the city of Ljubljana celebrated his 80th birthday with a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic.
- In 2011, BBC Music Magazine announced that Kleiber was chosen as "the greatest conductor of all time." About 100 conductors from today voted in this poll. Kleiber, who conducted far fewer concerts than most, was voted ahead of Leonard Bernstein and Claudio Abbado.
- A conductor named Susanna Mälkki said that Carlos Kleiber brought "incredible energy to music." She also noted his "remarkable vision" and "attention to detail."
- Jeremy Pound, an editor at BBC Music Magazine, said that Kleiber's "incredible attention to detail, sheer enthusiasm for music, and astonishingly accomplished level of performance could never be doubted."
- Charles Barber, who wrote about Kleiber, said he combined the strictness of German music with the lively joy of Latin music.
- In 2012, Kleiber was added to the Gramophone Hall of Fame.
Honours and Awards
- Cultural Honour of the City of Munich (1978)
- Pour le Mérite for Science and Art (Germany, 1990)
- Austrian Medal for Science and Art (1992)
- Golden Baton of La Scala (Milan, 1995)
- German Record Prize
- Bavarian Order of Merit
- Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art
- Grand Merit Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Discography
Filmography
- September 2009 BBC Radio program: Who Was Carlos Kleiber?
- Documentary Spuren ins Nichts – Der Dirigent Carlos Kleiber, Deutschland, Slowenien, Österreich, 2010, 52 Min., director Eric Schulz, Centauri, EuroArts Music International.Servus TV, 2010
- TV documentary I am lost to the World, directed by Georg Wübbolt, BFMI, ZDF, 3sat, C major Ent. March 2011
Images for kids
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Carlos Kleiber
See also
In Spanish: Carlos Kleiber para niños
