Georges Prêtre

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Georges Prêtre (born August 14, 1924 in Waziers near Douai , France ; † January 4, 2017 in Navès , Tarn , France) was a French conductor .

life and work

Georges Prêtre studied music with the main subjects piano and trumpet in Douai and then trained as a conductor with André Cluytens at the Paris Conservatory . He made his debut at the Opera in Marseille in 1946 at the age of 22 .

Prêtre was general music director of the Paris Opera and since 1956 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. In 1966 he conducted the last performance in the old New York Metropolitan Opera and a little later also the opening of the new building. From 1986 to 1991 he was “Principal Guest Conductor” of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra . He regularly led the major orchestras in Europe and America, including the Berlin Philharmonic (Waldbühnen Concert 1992) and the Vienna Philharmonic .

Prêtre was regarded as a specialist in the music of his homeland, in particular he campaigned for the works of Francis Poulenc . In 1959 he conducted the world premiere of his mono-opera La voix humaine . Maria Callas held him in high esteem, Herbert von Karajan encouraged him. At a young age he also appeared under the pseudonym Georges Dhérain.

In 2008 he conducted the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert - at 83 years of age the oldest conductor ; In 2010 he conducted it for the second time. In 2005 and 2009 he conducted the Venice New Year's Concert at the Teatro La Fenice . His last position was in October 2016 at the Wiener Musikverein, conducting the Wiener Symphoniker.

Awards

Prêtre has been the recipient of the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, 1st Class and other medals since 2004 .

Movies

  • Georges Prêtre conducts works by Richard Wagner and Ottorino Respighi. Concert recording, Germany, 2004, SWR, 43 min., Georges Prêtre conducts the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra , production: arte, SWR , November 28, 2004.
  • Georges Prêtre, music now and always. (OT: Georges Prêtre, l'urgence de la musique. ) Documentary, France, 2008, 59 min., Director: Claire Alby, production: arte France, German first broadcast: November 23, 2009 (portrait for 85th birthday).

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Le célèbre chef d'orchestre français Georges Prêtre avait 92 ans . AFP article on leDauphine.com , January 4, 2017, accessed January 4, 2017.
  2. ↑ Michael Cooper: Obituary on Prêtre , nytimes.com, January 4, 2017, accessed January 5, 2017.
  3. ↑ a b Peter Hagmann: The gentleman at the desk. He was Maria Callas' preferred conductor - now Georges Prêtre has died at the age of 92. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung . 4th January 2017 .;
  4. ↑ Helmut Mauró: On the death of George Prêtre , sueddeutsche.de, January 4, 2017, accessed on January 5, 2017.
  5. ↑ Maestro meets the board of the Vienna Philharmonic . Wien Holding, September 29, 2009, accessed on January 4, 2017.
  6. ↑ January 1, 2008: New Year's Concert . Program. Vienna Philharmonic, accessed on January 4, 2017.
  7. ↑ January 1, 2010: New Years Concert Prêtre. Program . Vienna Philharmonic, accessed on January 4, 2017.
  8. ↑ Norbert Hornig: The conductor Georges Prêtre: Fascinating in opera and concert in the announcement for the broadcast Historical Recordings of Deutschlandfunk on April 19, 2018, seen on April 11, 2018
  9. ↑ Excerpts from Georges Prêtre's last concert on October 12, 2016 on YouTube
  10. ↑ Georges Prêtre on the Wiener Symphoniker website, accessed on January 30, 2017.
personal data
SURNAME Prêtre, Georges
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Dhérain, Georges (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French conductor
DATE OF BIRTH August 14, 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH Waziers near Douai , France
DATE OF DEATH 4th January 2017
Place of death Navès , ( Tarn Department ), France