In Memory of Lorin Maazel.
Lorin Maazel, a former conductor of the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera and several other ensembles around the world, died on Sunday, July 13, 2014 at his home in Castleton, Va. He was 84 years old.
Mr. Maazel was born in the Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine on March 6, 1930, to Lincoln Maazel, a singer, and to Marie Varencove Maazel, a pianist, who were studying there. He showed an early aptitude for music: When he was 5, he began studying the piano; at 7, he took up the violin.
He reportedly had an amazing memory, and as a violinist, Maazel was briefly a member of the Fine Arts Quartet and of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He gave violin recitals throughout his career, and he also composed music for the instrument.
His conducting career was filled with many accomplishments, most notably he was the first American to be invited to conduct at the annual Wagner festival in Bayreuth, Germany, where he first conducted in 1960.
Here is Conductor Lorin Maazel, as he talks to the Universal Edition about the music of Gustav Mahler:
And next, here is the ‘Adagietto’ from the Symphony #5 by Gustav Mahler, as conducted by Loren Maazel in Munich in 2011. Let that astounding music serve as a memorial to this musician. May he rest in peace.
Tags: Lorin Maazel, death on July 13 2014, Gustav Mahler
