ON THIS DAY | Conductor Carlos Kleiber Was Born in 1930

Despite his relatively few appearances with symphonies and limited repertoire, he is regarded as one of the greatest conductors of all time

German-born Austrian conductor Carlos Kleiber was born on this day in 1930.

The son of eminent Austrian conductor Erich Kleiber, he is remembered as an eccentric genius.

An highly respected conductor of both operatic and symphonic works, Kleiber has conducted the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera in London, La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Berlin Philharmonic — although later in his life, he was not formally affiliated with any musical institutions.

His repertoire consisted almost entirely of nine operas — including "La Bohème," "Carmen," "Der Rosenkavalier," and "Wozzeck" — and a handful of symphonic works, such as Beethoven's Symphonies Nos. 4, 5, and 7; Haydn's Symphony No. 94, and Brahms' Symphony No. 4.

Kleiber passed away in 2004, aged 74.

BEETHOVEN | SYMPHONY NO. 7 | CARLOS KLEIBER & THE ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA