Klemperer, << KLEHM puhr uhr, >> Otto (1885-1973), was a famous conductor of opera and of symphony orchestras. Early in his career, he was known as a champion of modern music. In his later years, he was respected, especially in England, as a link with the great romantic tradition of the 1800’s.
Klemperer was born on May 14, 1885, in Breslau, Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland). The composer and conductor Gustav Mahler played a large role in determining Klemperer’s approach to conducting. Klemperer led the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra from 1933 to 1939. He also conducted numerous performances of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra during that period. After World War II ended in 1945, Klemperer became one of the leading conductors in England. He died on July 6, 1973. His son, Werner Klemperer, became a popular American television, stage, and motion-picture actor.
