World-famous German conductor Kurt Masur has died in the US aged 88. Originally from what was then East Germany, he was credited with helping
World-famous German conductor Kurt Masur has died in the US aged 88.
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Originally from what was then East Germany, he was credited with helping prevent violence after the fall of communism in 1989 after calling for calm during demonstrations.
When Germany was reunited in 1990, Masur directed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at the official celebrations.
He was also responsible for breathing new life into the New York Philharmonic Orchestra between 1991 and 2002. Masur was the director emeritus, an honorary title previously held by Leonard Bernstein.
The New York Philharmonic deeply mourns the loss of Music Director Emeritus Kurt Masur: https://t.co/efQ5xBEpcZ pic.twitter.com/yAs9w2YVTh
— NY Philharmonic (@nyphil) December 19, 2015
Prior to that he led the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.
He will be buried privately but a public memorial service will also be held.