Conductor. Born Bruno Walter Schlesinger, he began his musical education at the age of eight at the Stern Conservatory, Germany and was nine when he made his first public appearance as a pianist. In 1893, he made his conducting début there with Lortzing's Waffenschmied and the following year went to the Hamburg Opera to conduct. He joined the Court Opera in Vienna in 1910 and in Vienna the following year gave his first performance of the Ninth Symphony, having also prepared the score for publication. In 1923, he visited the USA to conduct the New York Symphony Orchestra, was re-engaged for the following season and made appearances in Europe going into the early 1930s. He was granted French citizenship, but settled America in 1939. During his American years, he conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, NBC Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and others. Between 1941 to 1959, he also conducted at the Metropolitan Opera, made numerous return visits to Europe, becoming an important figure in the early years of the Edinburgh Festival. He was also a very capable pianist who occasionally conducted Mozart concertos from the keyboard and accompanied many lieder opera singers. His compositions, mostly dating from the first decade of this century, include two symphonies, a symphonic fantasia, some choral works, chamber music and songs. He died of a heart attack at age 85.
Conductor. Born Bruno Walter Schlesinger, he began his musical education at the age of eight at the Stern Conservatory, Germany and was nine when he made his first public appearance as a pianist. In 1893, he made his conducting début there with Lortzing's Waffenschmied and the following year went to the Hamburg Opera to conduct. He joined the Court Opera in Vienna in 1910 and in Vienna the following year gave his first performance of the Ninth Symphony, having also prepared the score for publication. In 1923, he visited the USA to conduct the New York Symphony Orchestra, was re-engaged for the following season and made appearances in Europe going into the early 1930s. He was granted French citizenship, but settled America in 1939. During his American years, he conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, NBC Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and others. Between 1941 to 1959, he also conducted at the Metropolitan Opera, made numerous return visits to Europe, becoming an important figure in the early years of the Edinburgh Festival. He was also a very capable pianist who occasionally conducted Mozart concertos from the keyboard and accompanied many lieder opera singers. His compositions, mostly dating from the first decade of this century, include two symphonies, a symphonic fantasia, some choral works, chamber music and songs. He died of a heart attack at age 85.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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