Role

:

Conductor Performer

Birth

:

March 9, 1930 in Kalamazoo, MI

Death

:

December 16, 1977 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Opera

 

Thomas Schippers was a renowned American conductor and pianist who made a significant contribution to the world of classical music during his short but illustrious career. Born on March 9, 1930, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Schippers showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. He was a child prodigy and gave his first public performance at the age of six. Schippers received his formal music education at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied piano with Rudolf Serkin and conducting with Fritz Reiner. He made his debut as a conductor at the age of 19, leading the Philadelphia Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. Schippers quickly gained a reputation as a talented and dynamic conductor, and he was soon in demand by orchestras around the world. One of Schippers' early successes was his appointment as the principal conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 1960. He held this position for four years and during this time, he transformed the orchestra into one of the finest in the country. Schippers was known for his innovative programming and his ability to bring out the best in his musicians. He also had a keen interest in contemporary music and commissioned several new works during his tenure in Cincinnati. In 1963, Schippers was appointed the music director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, a position he held until his untimely death in 1977. During his tenure at the Met, Schippers conducted over 200 performances and was responsible for introducing many new works to the repertoire. He was particularly known for his interpretations of Verdi and Puccini operas, and his performances of Wagner's Ring cycle were widely acclaimed. Schippers was also a prolific recording artist, and his recordings of the works of Verdi, Puccini, and Wagner are still considered some of the finest ever made. He won several Grammy Awards for his recordings, including one for his performance of Verdi's Requiem with the London Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his work as a conductor, Schippers was also a talented pianist and often performed as a soloist with orchestras. He was particularly known for his performances of the works of Mozart and Beethoven, and his recordings of these composers' piano concertos are still highly regarded. Schippers' career was cut short by his untimely death from lung cancer in 1977, at the age of 47. His death was a great loss to the world of classical music, and he is still remembered as one of the most talented and innovative conductors of his generation. In recognition of his contributions to the world of music, Schippers was posthumously awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 1981.

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