Marcello Viotti
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marcello Viotti (born June 29, 1954, Vallorbe, Switzerland; died February 16, 2005, Munich) was a Swiss classical music conductor, best known for opera.
Viotti was born in the French-speaking region of Switzerland to Italian parents. He studied cello, piano and singing at the Conservatory of Lausanne. Wolfgang Sawallisch was a mentor to Viotti and encouraged him to begin his career in the theatre.[1] As a young conductor, Viotti honed his craft with the International Orchestra of the Jeunesses Musicales, in the Italian town of Fermo, and also with a wind ensemble[2]. His interpretation of the 4th Symphony by Schumann helped him win the Gino 1982 Marinuzzi Competition.[3]
During the 1980s and 1990s, Viotti was a director at several opera houses in Europe. These included 3 years as artistic director of the Stadttheater in Lucerne, Vienna, and a post as music director of the Turin opera[2], as well as 3 years from 1990 to 1993 as Generalmusikdirector of Bremen. He held guest conducting posts at the Vienna State Opera, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and the Bavarian State Opera.[4]
Viotti was chief conductor of the Saarland Radio Symphony Orchestra (Saarbrücken) from 1991 to 1995. He was one of three joint chief conductors of the MDR Symphony Orchestra in Leipzig from 1996 to 1999.[4] Viotti was chief conductor of the Münchner Rundfunkorchester from 1998 to 2004, when he resigned in protest at budget cuts that threatened the existence of the orchestra.[1]. Viotti was named music director at the Teatro La Fenice Orchestra in Venice in January 2002.
Viotti suffered a stroke during a rehearsal in Munich in February 2005, and underwent surgery to remove a blood clot. He was then hospitalized on life support.[3] He never regained consciousness and died on 16 February 2005.[5] Viotti was married and had four children.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Anne Midgette. "Marcello Viotti, Conductor, Dies at 50", New York Times, 17 February 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
- ^ a b Alan Blyth. "Marcello Viotti", The Guardian, 18 February 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
- ^ a b Ben Mattison. "Conductor Marcello Viotti in Coma After Collapsing", Playbill Arts, 16 February 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
- ^ a b Martin Anderson. "Obituary: Marcello Viotti", The Independent, 18 February 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
- ^ Ben Mattison. "Conductor Marcello Viotti Dies at 50", Playbill Arts, 17 February 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Myung-Whun Chung |
Chief Conductor, Saarland Radio Symphony Orchestra 1991-1995 |
Succeeded by Michael Stern |
| Preceded by Roberto Abbado |
Chief Conductor, Münchner Rundfunkorchester 1998-2004 |
Succeeded by Ulf Schirmer |
