German-Born Conductor Kurt Masur Was Born in 1927

Masur held distinguished conducting positions with the Dresden Philharmonic and London Philharmonic Orchestra, among others

Kurt Masur had a thorough and conservative training in piano, composition, and conducting at the music college in Leipzig, close to his native town of Brieg in Silesia (then part of Germany, now Brzeg, Poland).

He had a long career as the Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (1970-1996) and also served as music director of the New York Philharmonic (1991 to 2002). The former named him its first-ever conductor laureate.

Widely respected as one of the most eminent conductors of all time, Masur served distinguished conducting positions with the Dresden Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra National de France, and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, which also gave him the lifetime title of honorary guest conductor.

A professor at the Leipzig Academy of Music since 1975, he was the recipient of numerous honors, including the Cross of the Order of Merits of the Federal Republic of Germany (1995); Gold Medal of Honor for Music from the National Arts Club (1996); the titles of Commander of the Legion of Honor from the French Government, and of New York City Cultural Ambassador from the City of New York (1997); and the Commander Cross of Merit of the Polish Republic (1999). In September 2008, he received the Furtwängler Prize in Bonn, Germany.

Mazur has made more than 100 recordings with numerous orchestras, and in 2008 celebrated 60 years as a professional conductor.

He sadly passed away in 2015, aged 88.

KURT MASUR & GEWANDHAUSORCHESTER | BEETHOVEN | SYMPHONY NO. 3 OP. 55 | MOSCOW | 1972