Role

:

Conductor Performer

Birth

:

January 6, 1903 in Thessaloniki, Greece

Death

:

September 22, 1993 in Salt Lake City, UT

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

Maurice de Abravanel was a renowned classical music artist who was born on January 6, 1903, in Salonika, Greece. He was the son of a Sephardic Jewish family who had migrated from Spain to Greece. His father was a cantor, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, Abravanel showed a keen interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. In 1911, Abravanel's family moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, where he continued his music education. He studied piano, composition, and conducting at the Lausanne Conservatory. In 1924, Abravanel moved to Paris to study with the renowned conductor Pierre Monteux. He also studied composition with Nadia Boulanger and conducting with Felix Weingartner. Abravanel began his career as a conductor in 1927 when he was appointed as the conductor of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. He held this position until 1936 and gained a reputation as a skilled conductor. In 1936, Abravanel moved to the United States and became the conductor of the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Under Abravanel's leadership, the Utah Symphony Orchestra became one of the most respected orchestras in the United States. He held the position of conductor for 32 years, from 1947 until his retirement in 1979. During his tenure, Abravanel led the orchestra on numerous tours and made many recordings. He also commissioned new works and premiered many pieces by contemporary composers. One of Abravanel's most significant achievements was his work in promoting the music of Gustav Mahler. Abravanel was one of the first conductors in the United States to champion Mahler's music, and he recorded all of Mahler's symphonies with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. His recordings of Mahler's music are still considered some of the best interpretations of the composer's work. Abravanel also had a strong commitment to education and worked to promote music education in Utah. He founded the Utah Symphony Youth Guild, which provided music education programs for young people. He also established the Maurice Abravanel Visiting Distinguished Composer Series, which brought contemporary composers to Utah to work with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Throughout his career, Abravanel received many awards and honors. In 1963, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President John F. Kennedy. He was also awarded the Utah Governor's Award for the Arts in 1975. In 1979, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Utah. Abravanel retired from conducting in 1979 but continued to be involved in music until his death in 1993. He was remembered as a passionate and dedicated conductor who had a significant impact on the world of classical music. His legacy lives on through his recordings, which continue to be celebrated by music lovers around the world.

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