Conductor (1896 – 1960)
Dimitri Mitropoulos was one of the greatest conductors in history. He was also a pianist, a composer, pedagogue; an archmusician who served as Music Director of the Philharmonic of New York from 1949 to 1958. He was honoured with the highest distinctions by the Greek state, as well as from some of the most distinguished institutes of music in Europe and the Americas.
In 1915, at the age of 19, he directed for the first time the orchestra of the Odeon of Athens. In 1927, having already achieved widespread fame in Greece, he assumed the direction of the Symphonic Orchestra of the Athens Odeon. He made his debut abroad in 1930 as the conductor, soloist and composer of the Philharmonic of Berlin. He performed in famed cities such as Paris, Rome, Milan, Monte Carlo, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Warsaw etc. His fame brought him to the United States, where he assumed the direction of the Orchestra of Minneapolis and Boston and finally the Metropolitan Opera in 1954. Mitropoulos was one of the first who performed in Ancient Greek theatres (Epidaurus, Herodeion).
He directed over 2000 performances in his lifetime and 764 performances in a period of 20 years throughout the world, conducted 50 world premiers and directed 45 of the world’s greatest orchestras such as the Philharmonic of Vienna, the Philharmonic of Berlin and the Orchestra of La Scala in 1952, where he conducted operas such as Alan Berg’s Wozzeck. Furthermore, he introduced the works of Mahler, Schoenberg, Shostakovich and Prokofiev to the American public. He was chiefly admired for the innovation of his performances and his expressionism (he did not use a baton but his hands instead). As a pioneer of the 20th century music, he developed his own personal technique where he could visualize music, impart his own changes and adapt to the special requirements of each style.
Mitropoulos was known for his extraordinary memory, which he had trained for years. He would rehearse from memory and would remember every single note by heart, always conducting without any sheet music in front of him, not even during the rehearsals. He was one of only few, who could play a concerto in the piano while simultaneously conducting an entire orchestra. His prodigious talent enabled him to write stage music, room music, songs, operas and symphonies.
He died of a heart attack while on the podium, conducting Mahler’s Third Symphony on a rehearsal in La Scala of Milan. By the end of his 37 year career, Mitropoulos had been recognized worldwide as a thaumaturge of music, a conductor of global influence, a unique man gifted by the Muses.
Bibliography
- Dimitri Mitropoulos. New York Philharmonic. Nyphil.org. Web. Retrieved on March 4, 2017.
- Δημήτρης Μητρόπουλος. Musicale. Musicale.gr. Web. Retrieved on March 4, 2017.
- Kostios, Apostolos. Δημήτρης Μητρόπουλος (1896 -1960). Dimitrimitropoulos.gr. Web. Retrieved on March 5, 2017.
