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==Awards==
==Awards==


A professor at the Leipzig Academy of Music since 1975, Masur has received numerous honors: In 1995, he received the Cross of the [[Federal Cross of Merit|Order of Merits of the Federal Republic of Germany]]; in 1996 he received the Gold Medal of Honor for Music from the National Arts Club; in 1997 he received the titles of Commander of the Legion of Honor from the French government and New York City Cultural Ambassador from the City of New York; in April 1999 he received the Commander Cross of Merit of the Polish Republic; in March 2002, the President of Germany, Johannes Rau, awarded him the Cross with Star of the Order of Merits of the Federal Republic of Germany; in September 2007, the President of Germany, Horst Köhler, bestowed upon him the Great Cross of the Legion of Honor with Star and Ribbon; in September 2008, he received the Furtwängler Prize in Bonn, Germany. Masur is also an Honorary Citizen of his hometown Brieg. In 2001, Kurt Masur became an Honorary Member of the [[Royal Academy of Music]].<ref name="Hon RAMS 14 October 09">{{cite web | author= | title=Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music (Oct.14, 2009)| url=http://www.ram.ac.uk/whoswho/Pages/HonRAM.aspx| publisher=Royal Academy of Music| date= 14 October 2009| accessdate=14 October 2009}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> In 2010, he received the Leo Baeck Medal ([[Leo Baeck Institute]]) for his humanitarian work promoting tolerance and social justice. He also received a [[Goldene Henne]] award in 2014 for his work in public policy.
A professor at the Leipzig Academy of Music since 1975, Masur has received numerous honors: In 1995, he received the Cross of the [[Federal Cross of Merit|Order of Merits of the Federal Republic of Germany]]; in 1996 he received the Gold Medal of Honor for Music from the National Arts Club; in 1997 he received the titles of Commander of the Legion of Honor from the French government and New York City Cultural Ambassador from the City of New York; in April 1999 he received the Commander Cross of Merit of the Polish Republic; in March 2002, the President of Germany, Johannes Rau, awarded him the Cross with Star of the Order of Merits of the Federal Republic of Germany; in September 2007, the President of Germany, Horst Köhler, bestowed upon him the Great Cross of the Legion of Honor with Star and Ribbon; in September 2008, he received the Furtwängler Prize in Bonn, Germany. Masur is also an Honorary Citizen of his hometown Brieg. In 2001, Kurt Masur became an Honorary Member of the [[Royal Academy of Music]].<ref name="Hon RAMS 14 October 09">{{cite web|author= |title=Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music (Oct.14, 2009) |url=http://www.ram.ac.uk/whoswho/Pages/HonRAM.aspx |publisher=Royal Academy of Music |date=14 October 2009 |accessdate=14 October 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20091203022036/http://www.ram.ac.uk:80/whoswho/Pages/HonRAM.aspx |archivedate=December 3, 2009 }}</ref> In 2010, he received the Leo Baeck Medal ([[Leo Baeck Institute]]) for his humanitarian work promoting tolerance and social justice. He also received a [[Goldene Henne]] award in 2014 for his work in public policy.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 06:15, 18 October 2015

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

Kurt Masur (born 18 July 1927) is a German conductor.

Biography

Masur was born in Brieg, Lower Silesia, Germany (now Brzeg in Poland) and studied piano, composition and conducting in Leipzig, Saxony. Masur has been married three times. His second wife, with whom he had a daughter, Carolin,[1] died in 1972 in a car accident in which Masur was severely injured.[2] He and his third wife, Tomoko Sakurai, have a son, Ken-David, a classical singer and conductor.[3]

Conducting career

Masur conducted 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.

In 1991, Masur became 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.[4] In a television interview with Charlie Rose, Masur stated that regarding his leaving the NYP, "it was not my wish".[5] Masur stood 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 was that Masur improved the playing of the orchestra over his tenure.[6]

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, and served in this post until 2008,[7] when he took the title of honorary music director of the ONF. On his 80th birthday, 18 July 2007, Masur conducted musicians from both orchestras at a Proms concert in London.[8] Masur holds the lifetime title of Honorary Guest Conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2012, following a series of cancellations of concert engagements, Masur disclosed on his website that he has Parkinson's Disease.[9]

Political views

For years, Masur was loyal to the GDR leadership. 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.[10] 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.[11]

Awards

A professor at the Leipzig Academy of Music since 1975, Masur has received numerous honors: In 1995, he received the Cross of the Order of Merits of the Federal Republic of Germany; in 1996 he received the Gold Medal of Honor for Music from the National Arts Club; in 1997 he received the titles of Commander of the Legion of Honor from the French government and New York City Cultural Ambassador from the City of New York; in April 1999 he received the Commander Cross of Merit of the Polish Republic; in March 2002, the President of Germany, Johannes Rau, awarded him the Cross with Star of the Order of Merits of the Federal Republic of Germany; in September 2007, the President of Germany, Horst Köhler, bestowed upon him the Great Cross of the Legion of Honor with Star and Ribbon; in September 2008, he received the Furtwängler Prize in Bonn, Germany. Masur is also an Honorary Citizen of his hometown Brieg. In 2001, Kurt Masur became an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music.[12] In 2010, he received the Leo Baeck Medal (Leo Baeck Institute) for his humanitarian work promoting tolerance and social justice. He also received a Goldene Henne award in 2014 for his work in public policy.

References

  1. ^ John Tagliabue (1992-01-02). "Kurt Masur in Leipzig: A Favorite Son at Home". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-11-25.
  2. ^ Norman Lebrecht (11 July 2007). "Kurt Masur: The survivor's tale". The Lebrecht Weekly. La Scena Musicale. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  3. ^ Kevin Shihoten (18 July 2007). "Ken Masur Named Resident Conductor of San Antonio Symphony". Playbill Arts. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  4. ^ Greg Sandow (5 June 2002). "Kurt, We Hardly Knew Ye". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2007-08-12.
  5. ^ "Interview with Kurt Masur" (Interview). Interviewed by Charlie Rose. 21 May 2002. Retrieved 2007-08-13. {{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter |callsign= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Peter G. Davis (17 June 2002). "Soul Man". New York. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
  7. ^ Matthew Westphal (23 July 2007). "Daniele Gatti to Succeed Kurt Masur at Orchestre National de France". Playbill Arts. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  8. ^ George Hall (20 July 2007). "LPO/ONF/Masur". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  9. ^ Steve Smith (2012-11-10). "A Maestro Returns With a Brahms Double Concerto and a Surprise Soloist". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-11-25.
  10. ^ Michael Walsh (23 April 1990). "New York Gets a Revolutionary". Time. Retrieved 2007-08-12.
  11. ^ Gaddis, John Lewis (2005). The Cold War: A New History. New York: Penguin Press. ISBN 978-1-59420-062-5.
  12. ^ "Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music (Oct.14, 2009)". Royal Academy of Music. 14 October 2009. Archived from the original on December 3, 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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