Lorin Maazel: 1930-2014

Lorin Maazel, an American conductor, composer, and violinist, passed away on July 13, 2014. Born in France, Maazel moved to the US early in life. He was recognized as a child prodigy and made his conducting debut at the age of eight, beginning a career that would see him leading many of the world’s great ensembles. His appointments included conductor or manager of the Cleveland Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera, the Deutsch Oper Berlin, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic, the Orchestre National de France, and the New York Philharmonic, among many others.

Maazel leaves behind a prolific catalogue of more than 300 recordings, which earned him 10 Grand Prix du Disque awards (the premier French award for musical recordings).

Read more at the website for the Castleton Festival, a summer performance and training program for young musicians that Maazel founded at a custom-built performance venue on his Virginia farm.