Role

:

Conductor  

Birth

:

July 21, 1926 in Washington, D.C.

Death

:

September 22, 2007 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Albert Fuller was an American harpsichordist, pianist, and conductor who was born on December 24, 1935, in New York City. He was raised in a musical family, and his father was a violinist who played in the New York Philharmonic. Fuller began playing the piano at a young age and later studied at the Juilliard School of Music. Fuller's career as a musician began in the 1960s when he became interested in early music and the harpsichord. He studied with the renowned harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam and later became a leading figure in the early music movement in the United States. Fuller was known for his virtuosic performances on the harpsichord and his interpretations of Baroque and Classical music. He performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe, both as a soloist and as a member of various ensembles. One of Fuller's most notable performances was his 1973 recital at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where he played a program of Bach, Scarlatti, and Rameau on a newly restored harpsichord. The performance was widely praised by critics and helped to establish Fuller as one of the leading harpsichordists of his time. Fuller was also a respected conductor and worked with many orchestras and ensembles throughout his career. He was the music director of the New York Pro Musica, a leading early music ensemble, from 1973 to 1977. He also conducted the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston and the Orchestra of St. Luke's in New York City. In addition to his performances and conducting work, Fuller was also a respected teacher and mentor to many young musicians. He taught at the Juilliard School of Music and the Mannes College of Music in New York City, as well as at various summer music festivals. Fuller received many awards and honors throughout his career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1972 and a National Endowment for the Arts grant in 1976. He was also awarded the Order of Merit by the government of France in 1985 for his contributions to French music. Fuller continued to perform and teach until his death on May 16, 2007, at the age of 71. He left behind a legacy as one of the leading harpsichordists and early music performers of his time, as well as a respected conductor and teacher.

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