Georges Prêtre

Georges Prêtre ( born August 14, 1924 in Waziers at Douai ) is a French conductor.

Life and work

After studying music (piano, trumpet) in Douai and training to conductors at André Cluytens at the Paris Conservatory, he made ​​his debut as a 22 -year-old in 1946 at the Opera House in Marseille.

Prêtre was general music director of the Paris Opera and since 1956 at the Opéra -Comique in Paris. In 1966 he conducted the re- opening of the New York Metropolitan Opera. From 1986 to 1991 he was " Principal Guest Conductor " of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. He regularly conducts the major orchestras of Europe and America, such as the Berlin Philharmonic ( Forest Stage Concert 1992) or the Vienna Philharmonic.

Prêtre is a specialist in the music of his homeland, and in particular he championed the works of Francis Poulenc. Maria Callas liked him particularly. In his early years he also appeared under the pseudonym Georges Dhérain.

In 2008 he conducted - with its 83 years by then the oldest conductor - New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic in 2010, he conducted it for the second time. 2005 and 2009, he led the New Year's concert at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice.

Awards

Prêtre has since 2004 awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class and Commander of the French Legion of Honour.

Movies

• Georges Prêtre, now and always music. (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 Summary of arte, Portrait of French conductor 85th birthday.
• Georges Prêtre conducts works of Richard Wagner and Ottorino Respighi. Concert recording, Germany, 2004, SWR, 43 min, Georges Prêtre conducts the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Production: arte, SWR, 28 November 2004, Summary of arte