Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Arnold Voketaitis was a Lithuanian classical music artist who was born on January 15, 1922, in Kaunas, Lithuania. He was the youngest of four children and grew up in a family that was passionate about music. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist, so it was only natural that Arnold would develop an interest in music at a young age. Arnold began his musical education at the age of six when he started taking piano lessons. He showed great talent and dedication, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already performing in public. In 1939, he entered the Kaunas Conservatory, where he studied piano, composition, and conducting. During World War II, Arnold's studies were interrupted, and he was forced to flee Lithuania. He spent several years in Germany, where he continued his musical education and performed in various concerts. In 1949, he emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. In the United States, Arnold continued his musical education at the Juilliard School, where he studied piano with Rosina Lhévinne and composition with Vincent Persichetti. He also studied conducting with Serge Koussevitzky and Leonard Bernstein. Arnold's career as a pianist took off in the 1950s when he won several prestigious competitions, including the Naumburg International Piano Competition and the Leventritt Competition. He also performed with major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Arnold was known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to interpret a wide range of musical styles. He was particularly admired for his performances of the music of Chopin, Liszt, and Beethoven. He was also a prolific composer, and his works were performed by many leading musicians. In addition to his career as a pianist and composer, Arnold was also a respected conductor. He served as the music director of the New York City Ballet from 1960 to 1978 and conducted many other orchestras, including the Boston Pops and the London Symphony Orchestra. Arnold received many awards and honors throughout his career, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Arts, and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was also inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame and the International Piano Archives at Maryland. Arnold continued to perform and compose until his death on October 5, 2016, at the age of 94. He left behind a legacy of exceptional musicianship and a deep love for classical music.

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