Previn, André, << PREH vuhn, ahn DRAY >> (1929-2019), was an American conductor, pianist, and composer. Previn served as conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra from 1967 to 1969. He conducted the London Symphony Orchestra from 1968 to 1979. He was music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra from 1976 to 1984. Previn served as the music director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from 1985 to 1988, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra from 1985 to 1990, and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra from 2002 to 2006.
As a pianist, Previn achieved success playing both classical music and jazz. He composed and arranged music for several films and recordings, and he received four Academy Awards for his film work. Previn also composed concertos and other classical pieces, including the opera A Streetcar Named Desire (1998).
Andreas Ludwig Priwin was born in Berlin, Germany, on April 6, 1929. His family settled in the United States in 1939. He became an American citizen in 1943. He described his movie career in No Minor Chords: My Days in Hollywood (1991). Previn was married to songwriter Dory Langdon from 1959 to 1970 and to actress Mia Farrow from 1970 to 1979. He was married to classical violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter from 2002 to 2006. In 1996, Previn was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Previn died on Feb. 28, 2019.
