From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Masur conducting San Francisco Symphony, Mendelssohn's "Scottish" Symphony, January 13th, 2007

Kurt Masur (b. July 18, 1927) is a German conductor, particularly noted for his interpretation of German Romantic music.

Masur was born in Brieg, Lower Silesia, Germany (now Brzeg in Poland) and studied piano, composition and conducting in Leipzig, Saxony.

Masur held a number of conducting posts in East Germany, conducting the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra for three years ending in 1958 and again from 1967 to 1972. He also worked with the Komische Oper of East Berlin. In 1970, he became Kapellmeister of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, serving in that post until 1996.

For years, Masur was a supporter of the regime of Erich Honecker. In 1982, he received the National Prize of East Germany. His attitude to the regime began to change in 1989, after the arrest of a street musician in Leipzig.^[1] On October 9, 1989, he intervened in anti-government demonstrations in Leipzig in communist East Germany. He negotiated an end to a confrontation that could have resulted in security forces attacking the protesters as occurred at Tiananmen Square.^[2]

In 1991, Masur succeeded Zubin Mehta as music director of the New York Philharmonic (NYP). During his tenure, there were reports of tension between Masur and the NYP's Executive Director at the time, Deborah Borda, which eventually contributed to his contract not being renewed beyond 2002.^[3] In a television interview with Charlie Rose, Masur stated that regarding his leaving the NYP, "it was not my wish".^[4] Masur stepped down as the NYP's Music Director in 2002, and was named its Music Director Emeritus, a new title created for him. The critical consensus is that Masur improved the playing of the orchestra compared to his predecessor.^[5]

In 2000, Masur became principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), and held this position until 2007. In April 2002, Masur became music director of the Orchestre National de France. He is scheduled to relinquish this post in 2008 to Daniele Gatti.^[6] On his 80th birthday, 18 July 2007, Masur conducted musicians from both orchestras at a Proms concert in London.^[7]

Masur has been married three times. His first wife, with whom he had a daughter, died in 1972 in a car accident where Masur himself was severely injured.^[8] He and his third wife, Tomoko, have a son, Ken, who himself is a conductor.^[9]

• Kurt Masur official website
• Kurt Masur at All Music Guide
• Kurt Masur at the Internet Movie Database

• Geoffrey Norris, "Tempestuous thrills". Telegraph, 7 October 2003.
• Geoffrey Norris, "Humming fit for an Emperor". Telegraph, 12 December 2003.
• Ivan Hewett, "Proms: vivid singing on the wild fringes". Telegraph, 29 July 2004.
• Ivan Hewett, "Masterful and commanding". Telegraph, 30 November 2004.
• Ivan Hewett, "Proms 2005: hubris, wonky-sounding horns but, finally, radiance". Telegraph, 22 August 2005.
• Ivan Hewett, "The oasis before a rocky desert". Telegraph, 30 August 2006.