Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

April 6, 1929 in Berlin, Germany

Death

:

February 28, 2019 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

André Previn was a renowned classical music artist who made significant contributions to the world of music as a composer, conductor, and pianist. He was born on April 6, 1929, in Berlin, Germany, to a Jewish family. His birth name was Andreas Ludwig Priwin, but he later changed it to André Previn. His father, Jack Previn, was a lawyer and music teacher, and his mother, Charlotte Epstein, was a pianist. Previn's family moved to Los Angeles in 1939 to escape the Nazi regime in Germany. He began studying piano at the age of six and showed exceptional talent from an early age. He attended Beverly Hills High School, where he was a member of the school orchestra and played jazz piano in local clubs. He also studied composition with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Ernst Toch. In 1946, Previn was hired as a pianist for the MGM studio orchestra, where he worked on film scores for several years. He also composed music for films, including "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" and "Kiss Me, Kate." In 1950, he won his first Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture for "An American in Paris." Previn's career as a classical musician began in the 1950s when he started conducting orchestras. He made his debut with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 1957 and went on to conduct many other orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He was known for his ability to conduct both classical and popular music with equal skill. Previn was also a prolific composer, writing music for orchestras, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. His compositions were often influenced by jazz and popular music, and he was known for his use of unconventional harmonies and rhythms. Some of his most famous works include "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra," and "Violin Concerto." In addition to his work as a conductor and composer, Previn was also a talented pianist. He recorded many albums of classical and jazz music, including collaborations with artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Shore. He was known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to improvise in a variety of styles. Previn received many awards and honors throughout his career. He won four Academy Awards for his film scores, and he was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards, winning four. He was also awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998 and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. One of Previn's most significant achievements was his tenure as the music director of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1968 to 1979. During his time with the orchestra, he raised its profile and reputation, recording many critically acclaimed albums and touring extensively. He also introduced new works by contemporary composers and collaborated with artists such as Vladimir Ashkenazy and Itzhak Perlman. Previn's career continued to flourish in the 1980s and 1990s. He conducted many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. He also continued to compose and record music, releasing albums such as "After Hours" and "Kiri Sings Gershwin." Previn passed away on February 28, 2019, at the age of 89. He left behind a legacy as one of the most versatile and talented musicians of his generation.

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