Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Country

:

Austria

Birth

:

July 20, 1927 in Dresden, Germany

Death

:

March 8, 2019 in Austria

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Concerto

 

Michael Gielen was a renowned conductor and composer who was born on July 20, 1927, in Dresden, Germany. He was the son of the famous Austrian composer and conductor, Josef Gielen, and his mother was a pianist. Michael Gielen grew up in a musical family and started playing the piano at a young age. He later studied composition and conducting at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich. Gielen began his career as a conductor in 1947, when he was appointed as the assistant conductor of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. He quickly gained recognition for his talent and was appointed as the principal conductor of the Frankfurt Opera in 1959. During his tenure at the Frankfurt Opera, Gielen established himself as one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was known for his innovative programming and his commitment to contemporary music. In 1965, Gielen was appointed as the principal conductor of the Belgian National Orchestra in Brussels. He held this position until 1969, when he was appointed as the principal conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. During his tenure at the Concertgebouw, Gielen conducted many memorable performances, including a critically acclaimed performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 9 in 1973. In 1977, Gielen was appointed as the principal conductor of the SWR Symphony Orchestra in Baden-Baden and Freiburg. He held this position until 1999, and during his tenure, he transformed the orchestra into one of the leading ensembles in Europe. Gielen was known for his innovative programming and his commitment to contemporary music. He conducted many world premieres of works by composers such as György Ligeti, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Hans Werner Henze. Gielen was also a prolific composer, and his works were performed by many leading orchestras and ensembles. His compositions were known for their complexity and their use of unconventional techniques. Gielen was also a champion of new music, and he conducted many world premieres of works by contemporary composers. Throughout his career, Gielen received many awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1995, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and in 2002, he was awarded the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize. He was also awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Austria in 2007. Gielen continued to conduct and compose until his death on March 8, 2019, at the age of 91. He was remembered as one of the most important conductors and composers of his generation, and his legacy continues to inspire musicians and audiences around the world.

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