Mariss Jansons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mariss Jansons
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Mariss Jansons in 2015
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| Born |
Mariss Ivars Georgs Jansons
14 January 1943 |
| Died | 1 December 2019 (aged 76) Saint Petersburg, Russia
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| Occupation | Conductor |
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| Relatives | Arvīds Jansons (father) |
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Mariss Ivars Georgs Jansons (born January 14, 1943 – died December 1, 2019) was a famous Latvian conductor. He was known for performing music by composers like Mahler, Strauss, and Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. Many people thought he was one of the best conductors in the world.
Jansons led several major orchestras. He was the music director for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (from 2003 to 2019) and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (from 2004 to 2015). He was born in Riga, Latvia, and later moved to Saint Petersburg, Russia, where he studied music. He first became well-known with the Oslo Philharmonic orchestra.
Contents
Early Life and Music Studies
Mariss Jansons was born in Riga, Latvia, in 1943. At that time, Latvia was occupied by Germany during World War II. His mother, Iraida Jansons, was a singer at the Latvian National Opera. His father, Arvīds Jansons, was a conductor there.
Mariss's mother was Jewish. She had to hide to give birth to him. Her father and brother were killed by the Nazis. As a child, Mariss first learned to play the violin from his father.
Moving to Leningrad and Advanced Training
In 1956, Mariss's father became an assistant conductor in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg). Mariss joined him there and began studying conducting. He soon entered the Saint Petersburg Conservatory.
In 1968, a famous conductor named Herbert von Karajan visited the Soviet Union. He noticed Jansons' talent and offered him a chance to study in Berlin. However, the Soviet government did not allow Jansons to go.
In 1969, Jansons continued his training in Austria. He studied with Hans Swarowsky in Vienna and later with Karajan in Salzburg. In 1971, Jansons won second prize in an important conducting competition. Karajan again invited Jansons to be his assistant, but the Soviet authorities again blocked the offer.
A Career Leading Orchestras
In 1973, Jansons became an Associate Conductor of the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. This was an important step in his career.
Leading the Oslo Philharmonic
In 1979, Jansons became the Music Director of the Oslo Philharmonic in Norway. He worked with them for a long time, performing, recording, and touring around the world. He left this position in 2000 because of disagreements about the sound quality of the Oslo Concert Hall.
Working with London and Pittsburgh Orchestras
In 1992, Jansons was named the main guest conductor for the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He also worked often with the London Symphony Orchestra. He recorded Mahler's Symphony No. 6 with them.
From 1997 to 2004, Jansons was the Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in the United States. He signed contracts that were renewed each year. He announced his resignation in 2002, which became effective in 2004.
Health Challenges and Major Roles
In 1996, Jansons had a serious heart attack while conducting an opera in Oslo. He recovered in Switzerland. Later, doctors put a special device in his chest to help his heart. His father had also died young from a heart condition. Jansons mentioned that traveling a lot for work made him very tired, which was one reason he left his job in America.
In 2003, Jansons became the Chief Conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) in Germany. He worked with them for about ten weeks each season. He kept extending his contract with the BRSO, staying with them until his death in 2019. He often spoke about the need for a new concert hall for the orchestra. His last concert was in November 2019 at Carnegie Hall with the BRSO.
In 2004, Jansons also became the Chief Conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO) in Amsterdam. He worked with them for twelve weeks each season. In 2014, he announced he would step down after the 2014–2015 season. His final concert with the RCO was in March 2015, attended by the King and Queen of the Netherlands. He was then given the title of conductor emeritus.
Vienna New Year's Concerts
Jansons conducted the famous Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert three times: in 2006, 2012, and 2016. This concert is watched by millions of people around the world.
In 2007, Jansons conducted Beethoven's Ninth Symphony for Pope Benedict XVI and a large audience in Rome.
Personal Life
Mariss Jansons was married twice. He had a daughter, Ilona, from his first marriage. She became a pianist. His second wife was Irina. They had a home in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where Jansons kept his large collection of music scores. He was a citizen of both Latvia and Russia.
Jansons passed away on December 1, 2019, at his home in Saint Petersburg. He was 76 years old and had a long-term heart condition.
Awards and Recognition
Mariss Jansons received many important awards and honors from different countries for his amazing musical achievements.
- He was made a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit by the King of Norway.
- He became a member of the Royal Academy of Music in London.
- In 1986, he received the St. Hallvard Medal.
- In 2006, he was given the Order of the Three Stars, which is Latvia's highest state honor.
- He also received high honors from Germany and Austria, including the Bavarian Order of Merit and the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art.
Grammy Award and Other Music Prizes
In 2006, Jansons won a Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance. This was for his recording of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 13 with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
He was named "Artist of the Year" at the Cannes Classical Awards in 2006. In 2007, he won the Echo Klassik award as "Conductor of the Year." He received this title again in 2011.
In 2013, Jansons won the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Music Prize. This is one of the highest honors in music. He also received a medal for his contributions to Saint Petersburg.
In 2017, the Royal Philharmonic Society gave Jansons its Gold Medal. This award has been given to only a few very special musicians. In 2018, he was made an Honorary Member of both the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic orchestras.
In 2019, he received the Herbert von Karajan Prize and the Opus Klassik award for his "Lifetime Achievement." After his death, the BRSO also honored him with a special medal.
Selected Recordings
Mariss Jansons made over 190 recordings of orchestral music. Here are some of his notable recordings:
- Ludwig van Beethoven: The Symphonies and Reflections – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900119)
- Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900121)
- Benjamin Britten: War Requiem – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900120)
- Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 403571900100)
- Antonín Dvořák: Stabat Mater – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900142)
- Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 5 – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900150)
- Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 7 – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 403571900101)
- Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 9 – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900151)
- Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900191)
- Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900184)
- Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900185)
- Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (EMI)
- Richard Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie/Tod und Verklärung – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900148)
- Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900707)
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Queen of Spades – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR-KLASSIK 900129)
- Mariss Jansons - His Last Concert: Live at Carnegie Hall (Richard Strauss, Brahms; BR-Klassik 900192)
Images for kids
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Mariss Jansons in 2015
See also
In Spanish: Mariss Jansons para niños
