Sir Charles Mackerras

(Photo: Z Chrapek)

1925 Born in Schenectady County, New York and moves to Sydney at the age of two. Thwarts his parents’ attempt to lure him from a musical path by getting himself expelled from school. Studies oboe, piano and composition at the NSW State Conservatorium of Music in Sydney and becomes principal oboeist of the Sydney Symphony

1947 Wins a scholarship to study conducting with Václav Talich in Prague where he is bowled-over by the works of Leos Janácek

1948 Settles in England and begins a life-long association with Sadler’s Wells/English National Opera, becoming music director in 1972

1951 Conducts the British premiere of Janácek’s Katya Kabanova at Sadler’s Wells

1954 Appointed Principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra. Holds post until 1956

1959 His landmark recording of Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks attempts to reproduce the sound of Handel’s period, rather than the smoother orchestral arrangements of modern times

1963 Makes his Covent Garden debut conducting Shostakovich’s Katerina Izmailova, nine years before making his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York with Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice in 1972

1979 Knighted in the New Year Honours and the following year becomes the first non-Briton to conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Last Night of the Proms

1987-92 Music director of Welsh National Opera

1991 Reopening of the Estates Theatre in Prague after the Velvet Revolution. Mackerras conducts a new production of Don Giovanni to celebrate the occasion and to mark the bicentenary of Mozart’s death

1997-2003 Principal Guest conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. His 1998 recording of Rusalka with the orchestra wins the Gramophone award for Best Opera Recording

2004 Becomes Principal Guest Conductor of the Philharmonia orchestra

2006 Wins the Classic FM Gramophone Lifetime Achievement Award

2008 Announced as the new Honorary President of the Edinburgh International Festival Society becoming the second person to hold this role after Yehudi Menuhin

The modest maestro and tireless ambassador for Czech music

At 84, Sir Charles Mackerras continues to confirm his reputation as one of the world’s most important and admired conductors.

Along with a trademark modesty, the winner of the 2006 Gramophone Classic FM Lifetime Achievement Award is renowned for combining scholarship, meticulous research and perfectionism in equal measure – traits that shine through in everything he touches, be it Britten, Berlioz or Beethoven. His career has seen him conduct no fewer than 26 operas by 15 different composers at Covent Garden.

A noted authority on Mozart, Mackerras received acclaim for his recent recordings of Mozart’s symphonies with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. He focussed on period performance practice before the ‘authenticity’ movement became popular. It is, however, with the music of Leos Janácek that Mackerras has become primarily associated. Having ‘discovered’ the composer as a conducting student in Prague in the 1940s, Mackerras imported Janácek’s operas to the UK by conducting Katya Kabanova at Sadlers Wells Opera in 1951 and has remained a faithful advocate of the composer's music throughout the course of his six-decade career.

Essential discography

Janácek - Five Operas Decca

Vienna Philharmonic / Mackerras

> Mackerras conducts five Janácek operas
Mozart - The Magic Flute Chandos

Rebecca Evans, London Philharmonic / Mackerras

> Mackerras conducts The Magic Flute
Download from Passionato
Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade Telarc

London Symphony / Mackerras

> Mackerras conducts Scheherazade
Dvorák - Rusalka Deceit CD

Renée Fleming, Ben Heppner, Czech Philharmonic / Mackerras

> Mackerras conducts Rusalka
Download from Passionato
Mozart - Symphonies Nos 38-41 Linn

Scottish Chamber / Mackerras

> Mackerras conducts four Mozart symphonies
Handel - Music for the Royal Fireworks Pye Golden Guinea

Pro Arte Orchestra / Mackerras

> Mackerras conducts Music for the Royal Fireworks
Sullivan (arr. Mackerras) - Pineapple Poll Columbia

Sadler's Wells / Mackerras

> Mackerras conducts Pineapple Poll
Humperdinck - Hansel and Gretel Chandos

Jennifer Lamore, Rebecca Evans, Philharmonia / Mackerras

> Mackerras conducts Hansel and Gretel
Download from Passionato

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