Maazel, Lorin

(Varencove), American conductor; b. Neuilly, France (of American parents), March 6, 1930. Maazel's parents took him to Los Angeles when he was an infant. At a very early age he showed innate musical ability, including PERFECT PITCH. He began to study violin at age five, then piano at age seven.

Fascinated by the art of conducting, Maazel went to symphony concerts and soon began to take lessons with Vladimir Bakaleinikov, who was an associate conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 1938 he conducted a performance of FRANZ SCHUBERTS Unfinished Symphony with the visiting University of Idaho Orchestra.

In 1938 Bakaleinikov was appointed assistant conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the Maazel family followed him to Pittsburgh. From Bakaleinikov, Maazel quickly learned to speak Russian. In 1939 the young conductor made a sensational appearance in N.Y., leading the National Music Camp Orchestra of Interlochen at the World's Fair. Maazel was only 11 when he conducted the NBC Symphony Orchestra in 1941 and 12 when he led an entire program with the N.Y. Philharmonic in 1942. He survived these exhibitions and took academic courses at the University of Pittsburgh.

Maazel's young age inevitably drew comments from music critics and journalists. One critic compared him to a trained seal! Nonetheless, all were amazed by his technique and skill.

In 1948 Maazel joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as a violinist, and at the same time was appointed its apprentice conductor. In 1951 he received a Fulbright fellowship for travel in Italy, where he undertook a serious study of BAROQUE music. He also made his adult debut as a conductor in Catania in 1953. This was followed over the balance of the decade by appearances at various European festivals. In 1960 he became the first American to conduct at the Bayreuth Festival, where he led performances of RICHARD WAGNER'S opera LOHENGRIN.

In 1962 Maazel toured the U.S. with the Orchestre National de France, the same year in which he made his Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. conducting WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART'S DON GIOVANNI. In the summer of 1963 he made a tour of Russia, conducting concerts in Moscow and Leningrad. From 1965 to 1971, Maazel was artistic director of the Deutsche Oper in West Berlin. From 1965 to 1975, he also served as chief conductor of the (West) Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. Also in this period, he was associate principal conductor of the New Philharmonia Orchestra of London from 1970 to 1972, and its principal guest conductor from 1976 to 1980.

In 1972 Maazel became music director of the Cleveland Orchestra, a position he held with great distinction until 1982, when he was made conductor emeritus. He led the Cleveland Orchestra on 10 major tours abroad and maintained its stature as one of the world's foremost orchestras. He was also chief conductor of the Orchestre National de France from 1977 to 1982, then its principal guest conductor until 1988, and finally its music director until 1991.

In 1980 Maazel became conductor of the famous Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Day Concerts, a position he retained until 1986. In 1982 he assumed the positions of artistic director and general manager of the Vienna State Opera, the first American to be so honored. However, he resigned these positions in the middle of his four-year contract in 1984 after a conflict over artistic policies with the Ministry of Culture. He then served as music consultant to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra from 1984 to 1986, becoming its music advisor, music director, and principal guest conductor in 1986. In 1993 he also assumed the post of chief conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich. In 1994 he again conducted the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Day Concert. In 1996 he stepped down as music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Maazel is equally able to conduct operatic or symphonic scores. He is blessed with a phenomenal memory and possesses an extraordinary baton technique. He also maintains an avid interest in nonmusical pursuits. He is fluent in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian. He was married twice: first in 1952 to the Brazilian-American pianist Miriam Sandbank, and, after their divorce in 1969, to the Israeli pianist Israela Margalit (from whom he also was later divorced). Maazel has received many international awards and honors.