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Tag: Michael Gielen

Michael Gielen Dies Famed Conductor Was 91

Conductor Michael Gielen has died. Gielen passed on Friday, at the age of 91.

Best known as one-time music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (1980-86), and, especially, the Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra (1986-99), he was also a composer, which perhaps explains his special talent for deciphering complex and contemporary scores. He also provided interesting interpretive insights into music of the Romantic era.

This afternoon on The Classical Network, we’ll remember Gielen through some of his recordings, including that of a Chamber Symphony for 23 Solo Instruments by fin-de-siècle master Franz Schreker.

We’ll also observe the birthdays today of Catalan composer Xavier Montsalvatge, maestro del tango Astor Piazzolla, Irish composer of Victorian opera William Vincent Wallace, American originals Carl Ruggles, Henry Cowell, and Anthony Philip Heinrich, and vocal artist Bobby McFarren.

Don’t worry, be happy! It may be the first Monday following a time change, and great artists come and go, but the music will remain vibrant, from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

March 11, 2019
Michael Gielen Dies at 91

Conductor Michael Gielen has died at 91. So far, no claims that the reports are a hoax (with apologies to Jacques Loussier).

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/the-conductor-and-composer-michael-gielen-has-died-at-91

March 10, 2019
Celebrating Conducting Nonagenarians

There must be something to all that aerobic exercise and immersion in beautiful music. Otherwise, why would so many conductors live to such a ripe old age? The occupation must be second, in terms of promoting longevity, only to President of the United States (but the presidency ages you faster).

Join me this morning on WPRB, as we celebrate the 90th birthday of conductor Michael Gielen. Gielen is best known for being the one-time music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and, especially, the Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra, which he led from 1986 to 1999, and with which he has been associated ever since. Gielen, who is also a composer, had a particular knack for deciphering complex and contemporary scores, but he also lent interesting insights into music of the Romantic era. We’ll listen to some of his performances of fin-de-siècle masters Franz Schreker and Gustav Mahler.

While we’re at it, we’ll continue along these lines, with appreciations of 90 year-old maestros Herbert Blomstedt (born July 11, 1927) and Serge Baudo (born July 16, 1927). We’ll also hear recordings by notable nonagenarians who passed within the last year or so, including Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Georges Prêtre, Louis Frémaux, and Sir Neville Marriner. Then we’ll fill in around the edges with late-career performances by Sir Adrian Boult (who lived to be 93) and Leopold Stokowski (95).

Join me for recordings by this nonet of nonagenarians (and perhaps a few more), this Thursday morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com. We tap the wisdom of the ages, on Classic Ross Amico.

July 20, 2017
Celebrating Nonagenarian Conductors on WPRB

Tomorrow is the 90th birthday of conductor Michael Gielen. Though Gielen retired from the podium several years ago, primarily due to failing eyesight, conductor Herbert Blomstedt (born July 11, 1927), a Seventh-day Adventist who doesn’t eat meat, smoke or drink caffeine, is still going strong, with a full season of concerts ahead. On a related note, the French conductor Serge Baudo turned 90 on July 16.

With these milestone birthdays in mind, I thought it might be interesting tomorrow morning on WPRB to put together a playlist of recordings by these artists and others of their profession who have entered the 90 Year-Old Club.

We’ll sample Gielen’s recordings of Franz Schreker and Gustav Mahler, Blomstedt’s Roger Sessions, and Baudo’s Messiaen. We’ll also hear recordings by notable nonagenarians who passed within the last year or so, including Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Georges Prêtre, Louis Fremaux, and Sir Neville Marriner. Then we’ll fill in around the edges with late-career performances by Sir Adrian Boult (who lived to be 93) and Leopold Stokowski (95).

90 is the new 70, tomorrow morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com. Suddenly I feel like a spring chicken again, on Classic Ross Amico.

PHOTOS (clockwise from left): Michael Gielen, Serge Baudo, and champion arm-wrestler Herbert Blomstedt

July 19, 2017

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