artist.artist

André Previn

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American pianist, conductor, and composer in multiple genres born April 6, 1929 in Berlin, Germany and died February 28, 2019 in Manhattan, New York City, NY, USA (aged 89). Taught classical piano repertoire by his father who was a music teacher, he became a pupil at Berlin's Hochschule für Musik (Conservatory) from the age of six but, because of his Russian-Jewish background, he was forced out. Via Paris, his family settled in the USA in 1939 (naturalized 1943). Became involved in the film industry at MGM from 1946 while still a high school student. He became interested in performing jazz after hearing pianist at and recorded for various labels starting in 1946 and with during the 1950s. He was tutored around 1952 by conductor after being drafted into the military. Upon his discharge he returned to MGM and eventually received four Oscars (nominated for three alone in 1961), ultimately functioning as composer/arranger/conductor. Continuing to work intermittently in films and on new musicals, he began In the next decade to concentrate on a classical music career. Appointed as principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO, 1968 to 1979), he appeared in 1971 on the BBC's " Christmas Show" (a well-known comic encounter in the UK), hosted "André Previn’s Music Night" (1971-72) and was principal conductor and chief conductor of the (1985-92). From 1976 to 1984, he was music director of the , leading to programs on PBS such as "Previn and the Pittsburgh" (1977-80), and music director of (1985-89). Previn did receive some critical hostility in his career for his mix of the popular and the serious, but "Guardian" critic praised him for his espousal of the work of English composers such as (recording a complete cycle of his symphonies) and and his playing of the piano works of was well received. Late in his career, he composed two operas, "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1998) and "Brief Encounter" (2009). Won ten competitive Grammys (1958 to 2004) equally split between classical and other categories, and a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2010. Honorary UK knighthood (KBE) awarded in 1996. Great uncle (or possibly father's cousin) was . Married to: (1952-1957), (, 1959-1969), (1970-1979), Heather Hales Sneddon (1982-1999), (2002-2006) Father of (aka ) from his marriage to Bennett and (adopted) from his marriage to Sneddon