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36-637: The Orchestra was created in 2006 to be the orchestra of the new opera house, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía. The first music director of the orchestra was the French-born American conductor Lorin Maazel . He was succeeded in 2011 by Omer Meir Wellber . Each year the conductor Zubin Mehta directs this festival which includes several opera programs, concerts and recitals. Lorin Maazel (2006-2011) Omer Meir Wellber (2011-) This article on

72-529: A 70-minute suite , The 'Ring' Without Words , which he recorded in 1987 with the Berlin Philharmonic. Maazel died on July 13, 2014, at his Castleton Farms estate in Virginia, from complications of pneumonia. Maazel's catalogue contained over 300 recordings of works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Mozart, Schubert, Richard Strauss and others. He earned 10 Grand Prix du Disque awards. Maazel

108-463: A bronze sculptural group by Frank Vittor above a cylindrical pedestal inscribed with the names of the students and resting on a granite base. The sculpture depicts seven figures. Counterclockwise from the west side, these are Columbia with a trumpet calling the American youth to fight, a young man answering the call, a son and mother bidding a tearful farewell, a hooded figure mourning the dead, and

144-533: A classical orchestra is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Lorin Maazel Lorin Varencove Maazel ( / m ə ˈ z ɛ l / , March 6, 1930 – July 13, 2014) was an American conductor , violinist and composer . He began conducting at the age of eight and by 1953 had decided to pursue a career in music. He had established a reputation in the concert halls of Europe by 1960 but, by comparison, his career in

180-546: A half-day schedule to provide more space. To relieve the crowding, the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education opened Schenley High School and Westinghouse High School (both in temporary quarters) in 1912. In 1915, with an expected enrollment of nearly 1,800 students, Peabody took over the entire Margaretta building and the grade school students were reassigned to the new Dilworth and Rogers elementary schools. A further three-story addition designed by Edward B. Lee

216-651: A pianist and composer. Maazel was brought up in the United States , primarily at his parents' home in the city of Pittsburgh 's Oakland neighborhood. His father, Lincoln Maazel (1903–2009), was a singer, teacher of voice and piano, and an actor (he co-starred in George A. Romero 's 1978 horror movie Martin ); and his mother, Marion "Marie" Shulman Maazel (1894–1992), founded the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra . Maazel

252-612: A poorly reviewed opera, 1984 , based on the George Orwell novel Nineteen Eighty-Four and a humorous work for orchestra, flute and narrator which he composed for James Galway : Irish Vapors and Capers . He was depicted conducting Vienna's New Year concert on an Austrian postage stamp issued in 2005. Maazel and his wife, Dietlinde Turban together operated a summer music festival called Castleton Festival at their Castleton, Virginia 600-acre (2.4 km ) estate, Castleton Farms. Maazel arranged Wagner's Ring Cycle into

288-610: A program that included music from Gershwin ’s opera Porgy and Bess , Copland ’s A Lincoln Portrait , and an English-language version of the “ Ode to Joy ” from Beethoven ’s Ninth Symphony . With more than 5,000 people in attendance, the concert provided a capstone to Maazel’s first season in Cleveland. A month later, the Orchestra completed its first recording in three years — Prokofiev ’s Romeo and Juliet for Decca. The ensemble also returned to international touring during

324-554: A returning soldier being crowned with laurels by a figure of victory. Among the names on the memorial is that of noted writer and editor Malcolm Cowley , who served as an ambulance driver with the American Field Service during the war. In 2024, the memorial underwent a $ 20,000 restoration project which involved cleaning and sealing the bronze and replacing a missing hand on the Victory figure. The surrounding area

360-728: The Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School at the University of Pittsburgh as a child, followed by Peabody High School and the University of Pittsburgh . Maazel studied briefly with Pierre Monteux in 1945. In the early 1950s, Maazel toured as the conductor with the Gershwin Concert Orchestra. The orchestra consisted of 25 members and a noted array of soloists. The orchestra was organized in cooperation with Ira Gershwin , to give

396-622: The Israel Philharmonic . In addition, he was a Kentucky Colonel . Peabody High School (Pennsylvania) Peabody High School was a public school in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , in the neighborhood of East Liberty . The school opened in 1911 in the renovated former Margaretta Street elementary school and was rededicated in honor of Highland Park physician Dr. Benjamin Helm Peabody. After 100 years in operation,

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432-673: The Orchestre National de France in Paris, a position he held until 1991. From 1982 to 1984, Maazel served at the Vienna State Opera as general manager and principal conductor. In 1980, he succeeded Willi Boskovsky as conductor at the Vienna New Year's Concert and he led this televised annual event each year, until 1986. He returned to it four times: in 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2005. From 1984 to 1988, Maazel

468-449: The 1973-74 season with a first-ever visit to Australia and New Zealand. Because of a tightly-packed schedule, conducting duties were split between Maazel, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski , and former music director Erich Leinsdorf . The season, which also featured performances of Strauss ’s one-act opera Elektra at Cleveland’s Severance Hall and New York’s Carnegie Hall , closed with a dozen concerts across Japan . In 1974-75, Maazel led

504-769: The Musical Arts Association launched a concert to honor the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr ., which would become an annual tradition, and the Orchestra hosted a 50th anniversary celebration for Severance Hall featuring the same program as the ensemble played on the concert hall’s opening night in 1931 — Bach ’s Passacaglia in C Minor , Charles Martin Loeffler ’s Invocation , Brahms ’s First Symphony , and selections from Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis . Across Maazel’s final season with The Cleveland Orchestra, he would conduct only seven of

540-688: The New York Philharmonic after the 2008/09 season. In 2004, Maazel became the music director of the Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic. From September 2006 till March 2011, he was the musical director of the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana , the house orchestra of the opera house Palau de les Arts , Valencia , Spain. His last concert there as Music Director took place on his 81st birthday on March 6, 2011, conducting his only opera 1984 . In March 2010, Maazel

576-523: The Orchestra on a tour of South America and Central America. He also conducted the ensemble’s recording of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess — the Orchestra’s first recording of an opera and Decca’s first opera recording in the United States. Three years later, on December 10, 1978, he guided the Orchestra’s 60th anniversary concert, which included Victor Herbert ’s American Fantasy — also played during

612-500: The U.S. progressed far more slowly. He served as music director of The Cleveland Orchestra , Orchestre National de France , Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra , Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra , and the New York Philharmonic , among other posts. Maazel was well-regarded in baton technique and possessed a photographic memory for scores. Described as mercurial and forbidding in rehearsal, he mellowed in old age. Maazel

648-550: The demand for secondary education in Pittsburgh had been rapidly increasing, the school board decided to open a high school there. It was named Peabody High School in honor of Dr. Benjamin Helm Peabody (1825–1910), a physician and longtime member of the 19th Ward school board. By its second year of operation, the high school had about 1,100 students and was so crowded that the Margaretta grade school students had to shift to

684-426: The ensemble’s debut concert on December 11, 1918. The following fall, however, rumors began to swirl that Maazel was the top candidate for the directorship of the Vienna State Opera . Although the appointment was still several years away, arrangements were made to have Maazel conduct The Cleveland Orchestra through the 1981-82 season before departing for Europe. During the final years of Maazel’s tenure in Cleveland,

720-518: The orchestra's next music director, starting in 2002, succeeding Kurt Masur . Maazel conducted the New York Philharmonic on their landmark visit to Pyongyang , North Korea on February 26, 2008. He led the orchestra in renditions of the North Korean and United States national anthems, Dvořák's New World Symphony , George Gershwin 's An American in Paris , and closed with the traditional Korean folk song " Arirang ". Maazel stepped down from

756-477: The original architecture. Four Ionic columns which surrounded the original main entrance were preserved. The school remained open during construction with students attending on a split half-day schedule since there was no cafeteria. A memorial honoring 560 Peabody High alumni and students who served in World War I , including 17 who were killed, was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1924. The memorial consists of

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792-646: The public a comprehensive Gershwin program. The list of soloists included George Gershwin's friend, Jesús María Sanromá , Carolyn Long and Theodor Uppman . In 1960, Maazel became the first American to conduct at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus . He was chief conductor of the Deutsche Oper Berlin from 1965 to 1971 and the Radio-Symphonie-Orchester (RSO) Berlin from 1964 to 1975. At the age of 13, Lorin Maazel

828-650: The same orchestra at the New York World’s Fair . At the age of eleven, he guest-conducted the NBC Symphony Orchestra on the radio. At twelve he toured the United States to conduct major orchestras. By 1943 he emerged as the conductor of the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra at New York City's Lewisohn Stadium performing César Franck 's Symphony in D minor. He made his violin debut at the age of fifteen. He attended

864-487: The school board of the Pittsburgh Public Schools voted to close the school and graduate its final class in 2011. The Barack Obama Academy of International Studies 6-12 relocated to the building starting in the 2012–2013 school year. The Peabody name was no longer used. The site at Highland Avenue and Margaretta Street (now East Liberty Boulevard) which eventually became Peabody High School

900-489: The season’s subscription series concerts. His last performance at Severance Hall, on May 15, 1982, included a presentation of Verdi ’s Requiem , which he also brought on tour the following week to Lincoln Center , Carnegie Hall, and Woolsey Hall at Yale University . The Verdi had been Maazel’s debut piece in New York with The Cleveland Orchestra at the start of his tenure in 1972. In 1977, he became music director of

936-484: Was Artur Rodziński , in the midst of defending his decision to leave Cleveland for a post with the New York Philharmonic, who half-jokingly stated: “Look [Maazel] over, he may be your next conductor." However, it would be nearly thirty years before Maazel would become music director of The Cleveland Orchestra, succeeding George Szell in 1972. In the wake of Szell’s crisp, chamber-like style, many critics fretted over Maazel’s emotional interpretations. Shortly after Maazel

972-850: Was a Commander of the Légion d'honneur of the French Republic and of the Finnish Order of the Lion . He was decorated with the Bundesverdienstkreuz of the Federal Republic of Germany . On 27 May 2013, he received an honorary membership of the Vienna State Opera and the "Großes Goldenes Ehrenzeichen" of Austria . Maazel received the Italian Premio Abbiati and was an Honorary Life Member of

1008-763: Was a child prodigy and had perfect pitch . He had his first conducting lesson at age seven with Vladimir Bakaleinikov , making his debut at age eight, conducting the University of Idaho Orchestra in Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony in Los Angeles in 1938. In the same year, he conducted the National High School Orchestra at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. The following year, he conducted 11 concerts by

1044-710: Was born to American parents of Russian Jewish origin in Neuilly-sur-Seine , France. His grandfather Isaac Maazel (1873–1925), born in Poltava , Ukraine , then in the Russian Empire , was a violinist in the Metropolitan Opera orchestra. He and his wife Esther Glazer (1879–1921), originally from Kharkiv , Ukraine , then in the Russian Empire , came to North America in 1900 after the birth of their eldest son Marvin (1899–1988), who later became

1080-467: Was built in 1923–25 at a cost of $ 700,000. Pittsburgh Public Schools undertook a major $ 13 million remodeling of the building in 1975–78 which added a new gymnasium, swimming pool, library, and cafeteria, and moved the main entrance to the Highland Avenue side. The project, designed by architect N. John Cunzolo, also covered the building with a mostly windowless brick exterior which obscured

1116-630: Was concerned for the orchestra's well-being. From 1993 until 2002, he was chief conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich . In 2000, Maazel made a guest-conducting appearance with the New York Philharmonic in two weeks of subscription concerts after an absence of over twenty years, which met with positive reaction from the orchestra musicians. This engagement led to his appointment in January 2001 as

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1152-548: Was introduced to the citizens of Cleveland in a pension fund concert at Public Hall on March 14, 1943. He conducted a selection of pieces that included the overture from Wagner ’s opera Rienzi and Schubert ’s “ Unfinished” symphony , and his orchestra featured 14-year-old prodigy Patricia Travers on violin. Earlier in his young career, Maazel had already guest conducted the NBC Symphony , New York Philharmonic , Los Angeles Philharmonic , and Pittsburgh Symphony . It

1188-643: Was named chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic , effective with the 2012/13 season. Early in 2014, Maazel cancelled concert engagements as a result of ill health. Subsequently, in June 2014, he announced his resignation as music director of the Munich Philharmonic, effective immediately. Maazel conducted the music for three operatic films, Don Giovanni (1979), Carmen (1984) and Otello (1986). His own compositions included

1224-474: Was named to the post in Cleveland, though, his status was buoyed by both an endorsement from Philadelphia Orchestra music director Eugene Ormandy and the promise of a recording contract with Decca Records . In addition, Maazel chose to revitalize the Orchestra’s educational outreach programs for the city’s schoolchildren. He envisioned an annual concert at Public Hall where the chorus would be made up of area students. This project launched on May 19, 1973, with

1260-469: Was previously occupied by the old Highland (19th Ward) public school, which opened in 1870. This was replaced in 1901–02 by the Margaretta School, a $ 170,000 Neoclassical building designed by Charles M. Bartberger. In 1911, a new $ 237,000 addition designed by Bartberger, Cooley & Bartberger was built at the rear of the Margaretta School. Since there was extra space in the building and

1296-552: Was the music consultant to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra , and its music director from 1988 to 1996. In 1989, expecting to become successor to Herbert von Karajan as chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic , Maazel suddenly and publicly severed all connections with the orchestra when it was announced that Claudio Abbado was to take over. He claimed that his decision was because he

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