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.
