Role

:

Conductor Performer

Country

:

Hungary

Birth

:

December 19, 1888 in Budapest, Hungary

Death

:

November 15, 1963 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

Fritz Reiner was a renowned conductor and musician who was born on December 19, 1888, in Budapest, Hungary. He was the son of a professional musician and began his musical training at a young age. Reiner studied piano, violin, and composition at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where he was a student of Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály. After completing his studies, Reiner began his career as a conductor in Hungary, where he worked with the Budapest Opera and the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1922, he moved to the United States and became the conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. During his time in Cincinnati, Reiner gained a reputation as a demanding and exacting conductor who was able to bring out the best in his musicians. In 1931, Reiner was appointed the conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, where he remained for the next ten years. During his tenure in Pittsburgh, Reiner established the orchestra as one of the finest in the country. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to bring out the nuances of the music. Reiner also introduced many new works to the orchestra's repertoire, including works by Bartók, Stravinsky, and Shostakovich. In 1940, Reiner was appointed the conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 1953. During his time in Chicago, Reiner continued to build on his reputation as one of the finest conductors of his time. He was known for his strict discipline and his ability to get the best out of his musicians. Reiner also introduced many new works to the orchestra's repertoire, including works by Mahler, Debussy, and Ravel. One of Reiner's most famous performances was his recording of Richard Strauss's "Also sprach Zarathustra" with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1954. The recording became a best-seller and is still considered one of the greatest recordings of the work ever made. Reiner also recorded many other works with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, including works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky. Reiner was known for his uncompromising standards and his dedication to his craft. He was a perfectionist who demanded the best from himself and his musicians. He was also known for his temper and his tendency to be harsh with his musicians. Despite this, Reiner was respected and admired by his colleagues and his audiences. In addition to his work as a conductor, Reiner was also a composer and arranger. He wrote several works for orchestra, including a suite based on the music of Johann Strauss II. He also arranged many works for orchestra, including works by Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. Reiner received many awards and honors during his career. He was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government in 1950 and was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 1997. He also received several Grammy Awards for his recordings with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Fritz Reiner died on November 15, 1963, in New York City. He was remembered as one of the greatest conductors of his time, a musician who demanded the best from himself and his musicians and who left a lasting legacy in the world of classical music.

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