Role

:

Conductor

Birth

:

May 29, 1915 in New York City, NY

Death

:

September 7, 2001 in Hartford, CT

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

Igor Buketoff was a renowned conductor and composer in the world of classical music. He was born on May 24, 1915, in New York City, to Russian immigrant parents. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist, so music was a part of his life from an early age. Buketoff began his musical education at the age of six, studying piano with his mother. He later studied composition with Aaron Copland and conducting with Serge Koussevitzky. He also studied at the Juilliard School of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music. In 1941, Buketoff made his conducting debut with the New York Philharmonic. He went on to conduct many other major orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He was also the music director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and the New York City Ballet. Buketoff was known for his interpretations of the music of Russian composers, particularly Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. He was also a champion of contemporary music and premiered works by many American composers, including Copland, Samuel Barber, and Leonard Bernstein. One of Buketoff's most notable performances was his 1958 recording of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with the London Symphony Orchestra. The recording was praised for its clarity and precision and became a best-seller. Buketoff was also a composer and wrote music for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. His compositions were often influenced by his Russian heritage and included works such as the Russian Suite for Orchestra and the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. Throughout his career, Buketoff received many awards and honors. He was awarded the Order of Friendship by the Soviet Union in recognition of his contributions to Russian music. He was also a recipient of the Ditson Conductor's Award and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Music Award. Buketoff continued to conduct and compose until his death on February 5, 2001, at the age of 85. He left behind a legacy as a passionate and dedicated musician who brought the music of Russian composers to audiences around the world.

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