Karajan, << KAH rah yahn, >> Herbert von (1908-1989), was one of the leading symphony orchestra and opera conductors of the 1900’s. Karajan was known for his interpretations of the symphonies of Gustav Mahler and the music of Viennese composers of the 1900’s.
Karajan was born on April 5, 1908, in Salzburg, Austria, and received his musical training there and in Vienna. He served as music director, conducting opera and orchestral music in Aachen, Germany, from 1934 to 1941. In the late 1940’s, he became a conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna Symphony orchestras. He served as artistic director of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 1955 until he resigned in 1989. He was artistic director of the Salzburg Festival from 1956 to 1960, and rejoined the festival in 1964. Karajan was director of the Vienna State Opera from 1956 to 1964, returning to the company in 1977. He resigned as director of the Salzburg Festival in 1988. He died on July 11, 1989.
