Maazel, Lorin, << muh ZEHL, LAWR ihn >> (1930-2014), was an important American symphony orchestra and opera conductor. Maazel conducted many of the world’s leading orchestras throughout his long career. He served as music director of the New York Philharmonic from 2002 to 2009. Maazel also filled the post of music director or chief conductor at the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (1993-2002), the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (1988-1996), the Vienna State Opera (1982-1984), the Cleveland Orchestra (1972-1982), the Berlin German Opera (1965-1971), and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (1964-1975). In 1960, Maazel became the first American to conduct at the famous Bayreuth Festival in Germany.
Maazel was an accomplished violinist and composed several significant classical works. During the 1990’s, he wrote several concertos and was the violin soloist at the 1997 premiere of his “Music for Violin and Orchestra.” He also composed an opera, 1984 (2005), based on the famous novel by George Orwell. In 2006, Maazel became the first music director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, an opera house in Valencia, Spain. In 2010, Maazel was appointed chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, beginning with the 2012-2013 season. In 2009, he founded the Castleton Festival of classical music and opera on his farm in Castleton, Virginia. He codirected the festival with his wife, Dietlinde Turban Maazel, until his death.
Maazel was born on March 6, 1930, to American parents in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, near Paris. He was a child prodigy, conducting several major American orchestras by the age of 15. He joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as a violinist in 1948. He died on July 13, 2014.
