Role

:

Conductor  

Birth

:

May 16, 1959 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

Andrew Litton is a renowned American conductor and pianist who has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. Born on May 16, 1959, in New York City, Litton showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a violinist and his mother a pianist. Litton's parents recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Litton attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied piano with Dorothy Taubman and conducting with Otto-Werner Mueller. He graduated from Juilliard in 1981 with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. Litton then went on to study conducting at the Academy of Music in Vienna, Austria, with Sir Charles Mackerras. In 1984, Litton won the Gold Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Russia, which launched his career as a pianist. He went on to perform with major orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. Litton also recorded extensively as a pianist, with over 30 recordings to his credit. In addition to his career as a pianist, Litton has also established himself as a highly respected conductor. He made his conducting debut in 1988 with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in England and has since conducted many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. One of Litton's most significant achievements as a conductor was his tenure as Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra from 1994 to 2006. During his time in Dallas, Litton raised the orchestra's profile and led it to international acclaim. He also initiated several innovative programs, including the "Mendelssohn Festival" and the "Mahler Festival," which showcased the orchestra's versatility and range. Litton has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance in 1996 for his recording of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11 with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He has also been awarded the Order of St. Olav by the King of Norway for his contributions to Norwegian music. Litton is known for his versatility as a conductor, with a repertoire that spans from Baroque to contemporary music. He is particularly renowned for his interpretations of the music of George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein, and has conducted many of their works with various orchestras around the world. In recent years, Litton has focused more on his conducting career and has held several prestigious positions, including Principal Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway and Music Director of the New York City Ballet. He has also continued to perform as a pianist and has recorded several albums of piano music. Overall, Andrew Litton is a highly accomplished musician who has made a significant impact on the world of classical music. His talent as a pianist and conductor, combined with his innovative programming and dedication to promoting the music of contemporary composers, has earned him a place among the most respected figures in the classical music world.

More....