Erich Leinsdorf
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Biography
The Austrian-born conductor Erich Leinsdorf had a reputation among musicians for being a hard taskmaster who demanded high standards from his players. He had an abrasive personality which he used to enforce his meticulous attention to detail. Although Leinsdorf may have lacked charm his ability as a conductor was never in doubt and his services were eagerly sought after by leading orchestras, particularly in the US.
After studying music at the Mozarteum in Salszburg and the Vienna Academy of Music, Leinsdorf made a timely exit from Austria and took up a job in America just months ahead of the Anschluss in 1938 when Hitler ordered the annexation of Austria. In the US he took up a position as the assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York where he developed a reputation for the quality of his conducting of Wagner. During his tenure at the Met Leinsdorf was drafted into the US armed forces (he had become a naturalised American citizen in 1942) but when he returned from active service after World War II his contract was not renewed.
In 1947 he joined the Rochester Philharmonic, a post he held for eight years. During his career he went on to make guest appearances with many leading orchestras and made the following quote which is well known in musical circles: "The three works that make conducting worthwhile are Wagner's 'Siegfried', 'The [Beethoven] Ninth' and 'Rite of Spring'." Leinsdorf died in Zurich in 1993 at the age of 81 after developing cancer.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- IV. Turkish March featuring Arthur Fiedler
- Morrò, ma prima in grazia featuring Erich Leinsdorf
- La Bohème: Act 1: Che Gelida Manina by Erich Leinsdorf
- Salome / Jokanaan! Ich bin verliebt featuring Sherrill Milnes
- L. Mozart: Symphony in B-Flat Major, LMV VII:B6 (Formerly Attrib. W.A. Mozart as K. 17) - I. Allegro by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Così fan tutte, K. 588: Un 'aura amorosa featuring Erich Leinsdorf
- Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73: II. Adagio un poco mosso featuring Arthur Rubinstein
- La bohème: Che gelida manina by Erich Leinsdorf
- Salome / Ich will nicht bleiben featuring Sherrill Milnes
- Mozart: Symphony No. 1 in E flat, K.16 - 3. Presto by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Madama Butterfly: Un bel dì vedremo by Erich Leinsdorf
- Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60: "Circe, Circe, Circe, ich konnte fliehen!" featuring Jan Peerce
- Mozart: Symphony No. 1 in E flat, K.16 - 1. Allegro molto by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Mozart: Symphony No. 1 in E flat, K.16 - 2. Andante by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60: "Hübsch gepredigt aber raupen Ohren!" featuring Jan Peerce
- Mozart: Symphony No. 3 in E Flat, K. 18 - 3. Presto by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60: "Es ist alles vergehens, Ich fühle es während des Singens" featuring Jan Peerce
- Mozart: Symphony No. 4 in D, K.19 - 1. Allegro by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Mozart: Symphony No. 4 in D, K.19 - 2. Andante by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Mozart: Symphony No. 4 in D, K.19 - 3. Presto by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Mozart: Symphony No. 3 in E Flat, K. 18 - 1. Molto allegro by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60: "Schläft sie?" featuring Roberta Peters
- Mozart: Symphony No. 3 in E Flat, K. 18 - 2. Andante by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Salome / Wer hat meinen Ring genommen? featuring Sherrill Milnes
