Difference between revisions of "Georg Solti" - New World Encyclopedia
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− | Sir '''Georg Solti''', [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]] ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|pronounced]] {{IPA|[ʃolti]}}) ( | + | Sir '''Georg Solti''', [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]] ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|pronounced]] {{IPA|[ʃolti]}}) (21 October, 1912 - 5 September, 1997) was a world-renowned [[Hungary|Hungarian]]-[[United Kingdom|British]] orchestral and operatic [[Conducting|conductor]]. |
==Early career== | ==Early career== | ||
Solti was born '''György Stern''' [http://www.scena.org/lsm/sm3-8/sm3-8Books.html] in [[Budapest]], where he learned the [[piano]] and studied at the [[Franz Liszt Academy of Music]]. His father Germanized young György's given name to Georg and changed his family name to Solti, to shield his son from anti-semitism. By 1935, he was gaining recognition as a conductor, and made his debut at the [[Budapest Opera]] in 1938 with ''[[The Marriage of Figaro]]''. In 1939, with [[Germany|German]] invasion imminent, he fled [[Hungary]] because of his [[Jewish]] ancestry, and moved to neutral [[Switzerland]], where he continued a career as a pianist but had limited opportunities to develop his conducting. | Solti was born '''György Stern''' [http://www.scena.org/lsm/sm3-8/sm3-8Books.html] in [[Budapest]], where he learned the [[piano]] and studied at the [[Franz Liszt Academy of Music]]. His father Germanized young György's given name to Georg and changed his family name to Solti, to shield his son from anti-semitism. By 1935, he was gaining recognition as a conductor, and made his debut at the [[Budapest Opera]] in 1938 with ''[[The Marriage of Figaro]]''. In 1939, with [[Germany|German]] invasion imminent, he fled [[Hungary]] because of his [[Jewish]] ancestry, and moved to neutral [[Switzerland]], where he continued a career as a pianist but had limited opportunities to develop his conducting. | ||
− | After the war, Solti was [[music director]] of the [[Bavarian State Opera]] in [[Munich]] and the [[Frankfurt Oper]]. In | + | After the war, Solti was [[music director]] of the [[Bavarian State Opera]] in [[Munich]] and the [[Frankfurt Oper]]. In 1951, he made his debut at the [[Salzburg Festival]] conducting [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]]'s ''[[Idomeneo]]''. |
− | In | + | In 1961, Solti was engaged to conduct at the [[Royal Opera House]], [[Covent Garden]], where he was music director until 1971, and thereafter spent much of his time in Britain and the [[United States]]. |
His first marriage to Hedi Oechsli, in 1946, ended in divorce.[http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/11/02/home/solti-chicago.html] His second marriage was to [[Valerie Pitts]], a British [[television presenter]] whom he met when she was sent to interview him. They had two daughters. In 1972, he was naturalised as a United Kingdom citizen (and hence also a [[British subject]]). He had been awarded an honorary [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]] (knighthood) in 1971, and was known as '''Sir Georg Solti''' after his naturalisation. | His first marriage to Hedi Oechsli, in 1946, ended in divorce.[http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/11/02/home/solti-chicago.html] His second marriage was to [[Valerie Pitts]], a British [[television presenter]] whom he met when she was sent to interview him. They had two daughters. In 1972, he was naturalised as a United Kingdom citizen (and hence also a [[British subject]]). He had been awarded an honorary [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]] (knighthood) in 1971, and was known as '''Sir Georg Solti''' after his naturalisation. | ||
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==Chicago Symphony== | ==Chicago Symphony== | ||
− | Solti was music director of the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]] (CSO) from | + | Solti was music director of the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]] (CSO) from 1969 until 1991, when he was made the first and only Music Director Laureate in that orchestra's history. He was music director of the [[Orchestre de Paris]] from 1972 until 1975. From 1979 until 1983, he was principal conductor of the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]]. |
Solti was as enthusiastic making music in the recording studio as in the opera house or concert hall. He developed a long and productive partnership with the legendary producer [[John Culshaw]] at [[Decca Records|Decca]]. Products of this partnership included the first ever complete studio recording of [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]'s ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]'' with the [[Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra]]. No less distinguished and equally groundbreaking were his studio recordings of the operas of [[Richard Strauss]], which like his Wagner have been remastered and released on CD where they are still praised for their musicianship and expert production values. His performances and recordings of works by [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]], [[Gustav Mahler|Mahler]] and [[Béla Bartók|Bartók]] were also widely admired. With the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]], the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]], and the [[Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra]] he recorded an extensive symphonic repertoire including the complete symphonies of [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]], [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]], [[Anton Bruckner|Bruckner]], [[Edward Elgar|Elgar]], [[Robert Schumann|Schumann]], and [[Gustav Mahler|Mahler]]. | Solti was as enthusiastic making music in the recording studio as in the opera house or concert hall. He developed a long and productive partnership with the legendary producer [[John Culshaw]] at [[Decca Records|Decca]]. Products of this partnership included the first ever complete studio recording of [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]'s ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]'' with the [[Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra]]. No less distinguished and equally groundbreaking were his studio recordings of the operas of [[Richard Strauss]], which like his Wagner have been remastered and released on CD where they are still praised for their musicianship and expert production values. His performances and recordings of works by [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]], [[Gustav Mahler|Mahler]] and [[Béla Bartók|Bartók]] were also widely admired. With the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]], the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]], and the [[Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra]] he recorded an extensive symphonic repertoire including the complete symphonies of [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]], [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]], [[Anton Bruckner|Bruckner]], [[Edward Elgar|Elgar]], [[Robert Schumann|Schumann]], and [[Gustav Mahler|Mahler]]. |
Revision as of 01:13, 6 November 2008
Sir Georg Solti, KBE (pronounced [ʃolti]) (21 October, 1912 - 5 September, 1997) was a world-renowned Hungarian-British orchestral and operatic conductor.
Early career
Solti was born György Stern [1] in Budapest, where he learned the piano and studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. His father Germanized young György's given name to Georg and changed his family name to Solti, to shield his son from anti-semitism. By 1935, he was gaining recognition as a conductor, and made his debut at the Budapest Opera in 1938 with The Marriage of Figaro. In 1939, with German invasion imminent, he fled Hungary because of his Jewish ancestry, and moved to neutral Switzerland, where he continued a career as a pianist but had limited opportunities to develop his conducting.
After the war, Solti was music director of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and the Frankfurt Oper. In 1951, he made his debut at the Salzburg Festival conducting Mozart's Idomeneo.
In 1961, Solti was engaged to conduct at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where he was music director until 1971, and thereafter spent much of his time in Britain and the United States.
His first marriage to Hedi Oechsli, in 1946, ended in divorce.[2] His second marriage was to Valerie Pitts, a British television presenter whom he met when she was sent to interview him. They had two daughters. In 1972, he was naturalised as a United Kingdom citizen (and hence also a British subject). He had been awarded an honorary KBE (knighthood) in 1971, and was known as Sir Georg Solti after his naturalisation.
Solti was a great supporter and mentor to many young musicians, including the fiery Hungarian soprano Sylvia Sass, with whom he recorded Mozart's "Don Giovanni" and Bartok's brooding one act opera, "Bluebeard's Castle."
Chicago Symphony
Solti was music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) from 1969 until 1991, when he was made the first and only Music Director Laureate in that orchestra's history. He was music director of the Orchestre de Paris from 1972 until 1975. From 1979 until 1983, he was principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Solti was as enthusiastic making music in the recording studio as in the opera house or concert hall. He developed a long and productive partnership with the legendary producer John Culshaw at Decca. Products of this partnership included the first ever complete studio recording of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. No less distinguished and equally groundbreaking were his studio recordings of the operas of Richard Strauss, which like his Wagner have been remastered and released on CD where they are still praised for their musicianship and expert production values. His performances and recordings of works by Verdi, Mahler and Bartók were also widely admired. With the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra he recorded an extensive symphonic repertoire including the complete symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Elgar, Schumann, and Mahler.
He continued to add new works to his repertoire in the latter days of his career, voicing particular enthusiasm for the music of Shostakovich, whom he admitted he failed to appreciate fully during the composer's lifetime. Solti never truly retired, and his sudden death in 1997 meant several years of planned performances and recording projects would never be realized. In total, Solti conducted 999 performances with the CSO; his 1000th performance was scheduled to be in October 1997, around the time of his 85th birthday. All told, he won thirty-eight Grammy awards, more than any other artist in any category. The City of Chicago renamed the block of East Adams Street adjacent to Symphony Center as "Sir Georg Solti Place" in his memory.
According to his last wish, he rests in Hungarian soil. After a state funeral, he has been placed beside Béla Bartók: his one-time tutor and mentor.
Solti co-wrote his memoirs with Harvey Sachs, published in the UK as Solti on Solti and in the USA as Memoirs. The book appeared in the month after his death.
Awards and Recognitions
Sir Georg Solti holds the record for having received the most Grammy awards. He personally won 31 Grammys and is listed for 38 Grammys (6 went to the engineer and 1 to a soloist); he was nominated an additional 74 times before his death in 1997.
Preceded by: Hans Knappertsbusch |
General Music Director, Bavarian State Opera 1946 – 1952 |
Succeeded by: Rudolf Kempe |
Preceded by: Paul Kletzki |
Music Director, Dallas Symphony Orchestra 1961–1962 |
Succeeded by: Donald Johanos |
Preceded by: Rafael Kubelík |
Music Director, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden 1961 – 1971 |
Succeeded by: Colin Davis |
Preceded by: Irwin Hoffman |
Music Director, Chicago Symphony Orchestra 1969 – 1991 |
Succeeded by: Daniel Barenboim |
Preceded by: Herbert von Karajan |
Music Director, Orchestre de Paris 1972 – 1975 |
Succeeded by: Daniel Barenboim |
Preceded by: Bernard Haitink |
Principal Conductor, London Philharmonic Orchestra 1979–1983 |
Succeeded by: Klaus Tennstedt |
Also known as "The Screaming Skull" by orchestra players.
de:Georg Solti fr:Georg Solti it:Georg Solti he:גיאורג שולטי nl:Georg Solti ja:ゲオルグ・ショルティ pt:Georg Solti fi:Georg Solti sv:Georg Solti zh:乔治·索尔蒂