Role

:

Conductor  

Death

:

February 15, 2011

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Sidney Harth was a renowned classical music artist who made significant contributions to the world of music as a violinist, conductor, and educator. Born on August 16, 1925, in New York City, Harth showed an early interest in music and began playing the violin at the age of six. He was a child prodigy and gave his first public performance at the age of nine. Harth's parents recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. He studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City and later at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He also studied with some of the most prominent violinists of his time, including Ivan Galamian and David Oistrakh. Harth's career as a violinist took off in the 1950s when he became the concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He held this position for six years and played under the direction of some of the most famous conductors of the time, including Charles Munch and Leonard Bernstein. During this time, he also performed as a soloist with the orchestra and made several recordings. In 1960, Harth left the Boston Symphony Orchestra to pursue a career as a soloist and conductor. He performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. He also made numerous recordings, including the complete works of Bach for solo violin. Harth's career as a conductor began in the 1970s when he was appointed the music director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. He held this position for ten years and transformed the orchestra into one of the finest in the country. He also served as the music director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice in France and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in Canada. In addition to his work as a performer and conductor, Harth was also a dedicated educator. He taught at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and the University of Maryland School of Music. He also served as the director of the Tanglewood Music Center, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where he mentored many young musicians. Throughout his career, Harth received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of music. In 1975, he was awarded the Prix International du Disque for his recording of the complete works of Bach for solo violin. He was also awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 1981 for his contributions to French culture. Harth continued to perform and teach well into his 80s. He passed away on September 6, 2011, at the age of 86. His legacy lives on through his recordings, his students, and the many musicians he inspired throughout his career.

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