Kurt Masur, widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest conductors, used music to ease Germany’s reunification and to comfort New York after 9/11.
He was one of the New York Philharmonic’s longest-serving music directors, having led the orchestra from 1991 to 2002. Many credit him for enhancing its global reputation.
Much of his career was spent within communist East Germany and he mainly focused on the classical canon, making him an unlikely choice to lead one of the New World’s pre-eminent orchestras. However, he raised its profile with 17 tours around the world, including China, a first for the orchestra. It is now a key country for the its overseas activities.
After the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, Mr Masur led the Philharmonic in Brahms’ German Requiem in a n...
Kurt Masur, widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest conductors, used music to ease Germany’s reunification and to comfort New York after 9/11.
He was one of the New York Philharmonic’s longest-serving music directors, having led the orchestra from 1991 to 2002. Many credit him for enhancing its global reputation.
Much of his career was spent within communist East Germany and he mainly focused on the classical canon, making him an unlikely choice to lead one of the New World’s pre-eminent orchestras. However, he raised its profile with 17 tours around the world, including China, a first for the orchestra. It is now a key country for the its overseas activities.
After the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, Mr Masur led the Philharmonic in Brahms’ German Requiem in a nationally televised memorial service. He requested the audience to hold its applause, encouraging what would be a memorably profound contemplation on the tragedy.
He was also credited with foresight and sensitivity in 1989 shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Then the conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and a loyal and accoladed East German, Mr Masur went on the radio ahead of a concert to urge calm as protesters gathered.
The troops did not open fire and Masur's performance went ahead, helping set the graceful and largely non-violent tone of German reunification.
Yet Masur's strict style did not always agree with musicians and administration, and he later said that his departure from the New York Philharmonic was not voluntary.
He was given the title of music director emeritus and became music director of the Orchestre National de France and principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
He kept conducting late in life but suffered Parkinson's disease and passed away on 19 December, 2015, at the age of 88.
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