Lorin Maazel, 1930-2014.
July 16, 2014 10:59 AM   Subscribe

Maestro Lorin Maazel died at his home in Castleton, Va. on July 13, following a brief illness. Called to the podium and handed the baton by the great Toscanini as a child, Maazel's career spanned decades and saw him to the podium of most of the world's great orchestras. Maazel was legendary for his ruthlessness of the execution: "A conductor must lead, and people want to be led; that's why they're there."
posted by Dashy (17 comments total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
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posted by Iridic at 11:10 AM on July 16, 2014


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posted by dannyboybell at 11:13 AM on July 16, 2014


Bad week to be a conductor.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 11:13 AM on July 16, 2014


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I could kick myself for never seeing him conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony. I saw them a few times during his tenure but never with him out front.
posted by octothorpe at 11:14 AM on July 16, 2014


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posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 11:36 AM on July 16, 2014


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posted by fremen at 11:37 AM on July 16, 2014


Heard Maazel with the Cleveland many times both at Severance and Blossom, and heard many more on WCLV. Great as the band still is, it hasn't really been quite the same since Maazel left.*

Sleep well, maestro.

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*But then, times change and so do tastes. At some point, I'd sort of transferred my -- what: allegiance? fandom? esprit d'ensemble? -- to Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo's Fire.
posted by Herodios at 11:53 AM on July 16, 2014


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posted by dnash at 12:01 PM on July 16, 2014


Was lucky to see him several times. Very sad, but he had a long and good run. Used to walk past this photo of him as a child everyday in the concourse at Interlochen. Wave the baton in peace good sir.
posted by Lutoslawski at 12:25 PM on July 16, 2014


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posted by a fair but frozen maid at 12:31 PM on July 16, 2014



posted by pjern at 2:20 PM on July 16, 2014 [2 favorites]



posted by Cranberry at 2:32 PM on July 16, 2014


I heard somewhere that Lorin had a discussion with a musician after Toscanini handed him the baton.

The musician said, Did he tell you why he did it? Why you’re here? Jesus! What a mind job! So you’re here to save the world. What do you say to somethin like that?

How many of us would want that kind of introduction to the cloistered brotherhood? IMO Berlin's choice of Abbado over Maazel spoke volumes in his favor. Lorin didn't save the world, but his legacy is easily as remarkable of anyone's from his era.
posted by Twang at 2:37 PM on July 16, 2014


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posted by k8oglyph at 4:10 PM on July 16, 2014


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I sang once for a choral symphony that he conducted. It was quite an experience.
posted by bunderful at 7:07 PM on July 16, 2014


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posted by Red Desk at 7:48 PM on July 16, 2014


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posted by Westringia F. at 7:45 AM on July 17, 2014


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