Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

September 15, 1876 in Berlin, Germany

Death

:

February 17, 1962 in Beverly Hills, CA

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

Bruno Walter was a renowned conductor and pianist who was born on September 15, 1876, in Berlin, Germany. He was born into a musical family, and his father was a successful pianist and music teacher. Walter showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at a young age. He received his formal music education at the Stern Conservatory in Berlin, where he studied piano, composition, and conducting. Walter began his career as a pianist, but he soon turned his attention to conducting. He made his conducting debut in 1894, at the age of 18, with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented conductor and was appointed as the assistant conductor of the Berlin State Opera in 1900. In 1903, Walter was appointed as the conductor of the Munich Opera, where he remained for five years. During his time in Munich, he conducted the premieres of several important operas, including Richard Strauss's "Salome" and "Elektra." He also conducted the premiere of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5 in 1904, which was a great success. In 1908, Walter was appointed as the conductor of the Vienna Court Opera, where he remained for nine years. During his time in Vienna, he conducted the premieres of several important operas, including Richard Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier" and "Ariadne auf Naxos." He also conducted the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which he would later become closely associated with. In 1913, Walter made his debut in the United States, conducting the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. He returned to the United States in 1923, where he conducted the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. He also conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Walter's career was interrupted by World War I, during which he served in the German army. After the war, he returned to conducting and became the conductor of the Berlin State Opera in 1925. He remained in Berlin until 1933, when he was forced to leave Germany due to the rise of the Nazi party. Walter moved to Austria, where he became the conductor of the Vienna State Opera. He also conducted the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Salzburg Festival. In 1938, he emigrated to the United States, where he became a citizen in 1946. In the United States, Walter conducted the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. He also conducted the Metropolitan Opera and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Walter was known for his interpretations of the works of Gustav Mahler, whom he had known personally. He conducted the premieres of several of Mahler's works, including the Symphony No. 9 and the Symphony No. 10. He also conducted the first complete cycle of Mahler's symphonies with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in 1947. Walter was also known for his interpretations of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven. He conducted the first complete cycle of Beethoven's symphonies with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra in 1958. Walter received many awards and honors throughout his career. He was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1956. He was also awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society in 1957. In 1960, he was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors. Walter died on February 17, 1962, in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 85.

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