Erich Leinsdorf facts for kids
Erich Leinsdorf (born Erich Landauer; February 4, 1912 – September 11, 1993) was a famous conductor. He was born in Austria and later became an American citizen. Leinsdorf worked with many top orchestras and opera companies in the United States and Europe. He was known for his very high standards in music. He also wrote books and articles about music.
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Erich Leinsdorf's Life Story
Leinsdorf was born into a Jewish family in Vienna, Austria. He started studying music at age 5. He learned to play the cello and how to compose music. As a teenager, Leinsdorf played piano for singers. He studied conducting at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. He also studied at the University of Vienna and the Vienna Academy of Music. From 1934 to 1937, he helped famous conductors Bruno Walter and Arturo Toscanini. This was at the Salzburg Festival.
Moving to America
In November 1937, Leinsdorf moved to the United States. He became an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. He left Austria just before the Anschluss in March 1938. This was when Nazi Germany took over Austria. With help from Lyndon B. Johnson, he was able to stay in the U.S. He became an American citizen in 1942.
While at the Met, Leinsdorf was known for conducting music by Richard Wagner. After another conductor died in 1939, Leinsdorf became the Met's "head of German repertoire." This meant he was in charge of German operas.
Leading the Cleveland Orchestra
By 1943, Leinsdorf was considered for a big job. He was a candidate to become the music director of The Cleveland Orchestra. He was only 31 years old and had limited experience outside of opera. But he won a vote by the Orchestra's board. He became their third music director in 1943.
During his first year in Cleveland, Leinsdorf made important changes. He wanted to plan the whole season in advance. This would help the Orchestra promote concerts and reach more people. He also wanted the Orchestra to play all year. World War II made this difficult. He also helped arrange a weekly radio broadcast. This allowed The Cleveland Orchestra to be heard across the U.S. and other parts of the world. Concerts were also recorded for American soldiers overseas.
A Short Time in the Army
Leinsdorf's time as music director in Cleveland was short. In October 1943, he learned his draft status had changed. He was called to serve in the army. He told the press, "I intend to obey my government's orders." His departure meant The Cleveland Orchestra needed a new music director.
Leinsdorf's time in the Army was brief. He was honorably discharged in September 1944. But the Orchestra had already found his replacement. In November 1944, George Szell made his debut with great reviews. Leinsdorf was still under contract, but he had lost much of his power. He returned to conduct the last program of the season. As people preferred Szell, Leinsdorf resigned. However, after Szell died in 1970, Leinsdorf often returned to conduct The Cleveland Orchestra as a guest.
Other Orchestras and Important Moments
Leinsdorf was the main conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra from 1947 to 1955. He later briefly led the New York City Opera. Then he returned to work with the Met. In 1962, he became the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He made many recordings with them. But he sometimes had disagreements with musicians and staff.
On November 22, 1963, during a Boston Symphony concert, Leinsdorf had to share sad news. He announced the reports of President John F. Kennedy's assassination to a shocked audience. He and the orchestra then played the Funeral March from Beethoven's third symphony.
In 1969, Leinsdorf left the Boston Symphony. For the next 20 years, he continued to guest-conduct operas and orchestras worldwide. He often worked with the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic. He also served as the main conductor of the (West) Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1978 to 1980. He passed away from cancer in Zürich, Switzerland, at age 81.
Leinsdorf was also known for arranging music from operas into concert suites. These included music from Claude Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande, Richard Wagner's Parsifal, and Richard Strauss's Die Frau ohne Schatten.
Erich Leinsdorf's Recordings
Leinsdorf made many recordings throughout his career. He recorded with the Cleveland Orchestra for RCA Victor and Columbia Records. In the early 1950s, he recorded all of Mozart's symphonies with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He also started a series of recordings with the Rochester Philharmonic for Columbia. This included Beethoven's Eroica symphony.
Leinsdorf made many stereo recordings in the 1960s. He worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Philharmonia Orchestra. He also recorded with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Starting in 1957, Leinsdorf conducted a series of complete opera recordings in stereo. These included Puccini's Tosca.
As music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, he continued to record for RCA Victor. Notable recordings included works by Mahler and Bartok. He also recorded all of Beethoven's and Brahms' symphonies. A live recording of Mozart's Mozart Requiem was made in memory of President John F. Kennedy. He also recorded the first complete stereo recording of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Die Tote Stadt. Leinsdorf conducted the Boston Symphony with pianist Artur Rubinstein for Beethoven's piano concertos. He also recorded a complete Lohengrin, a major Wagner opera.
After leaving Boston in the 1970s, Leinsdorf recorded for Decca/London. He recorded many Mozart operas, like Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro. He also recorded Wagner's Die Walküre.
Grammy Awards
Leinsdorf won seven Grammy Awards during his career. These awards celebrate achievements in the music industry.
- 1961 – Best Opera Recording (for Turandot)
- 1964 – Best Opera Recording (for Madama butterfly)
- 1964 – Best Orchestral Performance (for Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra)
- 1965 – Best Orchestral Performance (for Mahler: Symphony No. 5 / Berg: Excerpts from Wozzeck)
- 1967 – Best Orchestral Performance (for Mahler: Symphony No. 6)
- 1969 – Best Opera Recording (for Così fan tutte)
- 1972 – Best Opera Recording (for Aida)
He was also nominated for 12 other Grammy Awards.
Erich Leinsdorf on Video
DVDs
On DVD, you can see Leinsdorf conducting the Vienna Symphony. This recording features Johann Strauß: Famous Works. Some of his televised performances with The Boston Symphony Orchestra are also on DVD. One notable performance is Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony from April 1969.
Television Appearances
Leinsdorf and the Boston Symphony Orchestra often appeared on local TV broadcasts. They also appeared nationally on PBS in "Evening at Symphony" shows. On August 17, 1967, Leinsdorf conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a two-hour TV special on NBC. This show, called An Evening at Tanglewood, featured violinist Itzhak Perlman.
Famous Quotes
Three works that make conducting worthwhile are Wagner's Siegfried, the [Beethoven] Ninth, and Rite of Spring.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a press report over the wires – we hope that it is unconfirmed, but we have to doubt it – that the President of the United States has been the victim of an assassination. [gasps from the audience] We will play the Funeral March from Beethoven's Third Symphony.
See also
In Spanish: Erich Leinsdorf para niños
