Role

:

Conductor

Birth

:

March 3, 1941 in New York City, NY

Death

:

January 1, 2016 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Symphony

 

Gilbert Kaplan was an American businessman, philanthropist, and conductor who was best known for his performances of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2, also known as the "Resurrection Symphony." Born on March 3, 1941, in New York City, Kaplan grew up in a family that was not particularly interested in classical music. However, he developed a fascination with Mahler's music at a young age, and he began collecting recordings of the composer's works. Kaplan attended Yale University, where he studied economics and political science. After graduating in 1962, he began a career in finance, working for various investment banks and eventually founding his own firm, Kaplan & Co. Despite his success in business, Kaplan continued to pursue his passion for classical music, and he became a self-taught conductor. In 1982, Kaplan founded the Mahler Society of New York, which was dedicated to promoting the music of Gustav Mahler. The society organized concerts, lectures, and other events, and it quickly gained a reputation as one of the leading organizations of its kind in the United States. Kaplan also began conducting his own performances of Mahler's music, and he became particularly known for his interpretations of the "Resurrection Symphony." Kaplan's first performance of the "Resurrection Symphony" took place in 1982, with the London Symphony Orchestra. The performance was a critical and commercial success, and it led to invitations for Kaplan to conduct the work with other orchestras around the world. Over the next several decades, Kaplan conducted the "Resurrection Symphony" with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. Kaplan's performances of the "Resurrection Symphony" were notable for their attention to detail and their emotional intensity. He was known for his meticulous preparation, and he would spend months studying the score and rehearsing with the orchestra before each performance. He also had a deep understanding of Mahler's music and was able to convey its complex emotional and spiritual themes to audiences. In addition to his work as a conductor, Kaplan was also a philanthropist who supported a variety of causes. He was particularly interested in education and the arts, and he donated millions of dollars to organizations such as the Juilliard School and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He also established the Kaplan Foundation, which supports research into heart disease and other medical conditions. Kaplan received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music and philanthropy. In 2002, he was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, and in 2006, he was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He also received honorary degrees from several universities, including Yale and the University of Vienna. Kaplan continued to conduct performances of the "Resurrection Symphony" until his death in 2016. His legacy as a conductor and philanthropist continues to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world.

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