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Charles Mackerras

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Sir Charles Mackerras (1925 to 2010) was an Australian conductor who spent most of his adult life in London. He was born in Schenectady in the United States to Australian parents and grew up in Sydney. As a child he played violin and flute, and at sixteen he studied oboe, piano and composition at the Sydney conservatory. Later he became an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and on the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. Czech music in general also had his special attention. He made many recordings for the Czech label Supraphon.

Music and breakthrough

His career took him through many houses. From 1954 to 1956 he was chief conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra, from 1965 to 1969 he led the opera in Hamburg and from 1970 to 1977 the English National Opera. In 1980 he was the first non-Briton to conduct the Last Night of the Proms. From 1982 to 1985 he was the first Australian to be chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He then worked at the Welsh National Opera, where his Janáček productions in particular were praised. Records released include Finlandia: Music of Grieg and Sibelius in 1959, The Indian Queen in 1966 and 1812 Overture in 1970.

Influence

Mackerras was known as a conductor who combined thorough research with lively playing. He looked for the original sources of a work and tried to make that music sound the way the composer intended. His influence on British operatic life is described as great in the Grove dictionary.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to his recording of 1812 Overture and notice the way the orchestra works from a quiet beginning towards a loud ending with cannons and bells. Try to hear where the melodies alternate.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists