New York Monthly Herald. June 2006 Issue P. 54 CONTINUES NEXT
NEW YORK PERFORMING ARTS, FILM AND OPERA
Photo: Lorin Maazel.
About the artist: CYNTHIA PHELPS, Principal Viola. Coming from a family of musicians, Cynthia Phelps became involved with music at age four. She was much involved in her high school’s student council and cheerleading, but realized (in a career guidance class) that she really wanted to play the viola. She received musical training at the Music Academy at Santa Barbara, and also studied with the legendary violist William Primrose. The sound of the viola struck a chord in her: “The color of the viola is like the alto voice. I like to hear a dark woody rich timbre. When I picked up my first viola I felt like I had found my voice.” Lorin Maazel became Music Director of the New York Philharmonic in September 2002. Over the years he has led more than 150 orchestras in more than 5,000 opera and concert performances, and conducted the Philharmonic more than 100 times prior to his current appointment. Mr. Maazel most recently served as music director of the Symphony Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio (1993 until summer 2002). He has held positions as music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony (1988-96); general manager and chief conductor of the Vienna State Opera (1982-84) – the first American to hold that position; music director of The Cleveland Orchestra (1972-82), appearing with the orchestra in some 700 performances and seven international tours; and artistic director and chief conductor of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (1965-71). He was named honorary member of the Israel Philharmonic in 1985 when he conducted its 40th anniversary concert. He is also Honorary Member of the Vienna Philharmonic and is the recipient of the Hans von Bulow Silver Medal from the Berlin Philharmonic. A second-generation American, born in 1930 in Paris, Mr. Maazel was raised and educated in the United States. He took his first violin lesson at age five, and conducting lesson at age seven. He studied with Vladimir Bakaleinikoff and appeared publicly for the first time at age eight, leading a university orchestra. He was invited by Arturo Toscanini to conduct the NBC Symphony in 1941 at age 11, and made his New York debut at the New York World’s Fair at age 9, conducting the Interlochen Orchestra. That same year, 1939, he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the Hollywood Bowl, sharing a program with Leopold Stokowski. He made his New York Philharmonic conducting debut on August 5, 1942 at Lewisohn Stadium, the former summer venue of the Orchestra. Between ages 9 and 15, he conducted most of the major American orchestras. At 17 he entered the University of Pittsburgh to study languages, mathematics, and philosophy. While a student, he was a violinist with the Pittsburgh Symphony and served as apprentice conductor during the 1949–1950 season. In 1951, he won a Fulbright Fellowship to Italy, and two years later made his European conducting debut in Catania, Italy. He appeared at Bayreuth in 1960 (the first American to do so), with the Boston Symphony in 1961, and in Salzburg in 1963. Since then, he has conducted throughout Europe, Australia, North and South America, Japan, and the former Soviet Union. Maestro Maazel’s extensive discography includes recordings with The Cleveland Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic, and Bavarian Radio Orchestra. His interpretations of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess with The Cleveland Orchestra were the first complete recordings of these works. He is the recipient of 10 Grand Prix du Disque Awards. As a violinist, Lorin Maazel has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras. Also an accomplished composer, his works include The Empty Pot, for boy soprano, children’s chorus, orchestra, and narrator; Farewells, commissioned and performed by the Vienna Philharmonic; and Irish Vapours and Capers, premiered by the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1994. He is currently composing an opera based on George Orwell’s 1984. His honors, decorations, and awards include the Commander’s Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Legion of Honor of France, and the Commander of the Lion of Finland.