Conductor Lorin Maazel Was Born On This Day in 1930

American conductor, violinist and composer Maestro Lorin Maazel was born on this day in 1930

American conductor, violinist, and composer Maestro Lorin Maazel was born on this day in 1930.

Maazel grew up in Los Angeles and began his first musical instruction at age five. A recognized child prodigy, he had his first conducting lesson at age seven with Vladimir Bakaleinikov, and made his debut at age eight, conducting the University of Idaho Orchestra in Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony in Los Angeles in 1938.

At the age of eleven, he guest-conducted the NBC Symphony Orchestra on the radio and began conducting major international orchestras aged just 12.

Maestro Maazel has served as principal conducting positions with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, Vienna State Opera, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and the Munich Philharmonic.

Maazel excelled in both the operatic and orchestral realms, boasting a repertoire spanning from 18th-century music to contemporary works. While understated on the podium, he skillfully merged clarity with profound emotional expression.

Maazel also showcased his talents as a composer and frequently graced stages as a violinist.

In 2009, he established the Castleton Festival, an annual event for aspiring young musicians, held at his farm in Virginia.

He sadly passed away in 2014 - aged 84.

SCHUBERT | SYMPHONY NO. 9 IN C MAJOR "THE GREAT" | LORIN MAAZEL & THE BAVARIAN RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA