Sergiu Celibidache's Biography

Sergiu Celibidache studied Philosophy and Mathematics at the University of Bucharest. In 1936 he went to Berlin and continued his studies, largely concerning himself with wave mechanics, but also with musical studies. He wrote his doctorate on Josquin des Pres. From 1939-45 he studied and the Berlin College of Music under Fritz Stein, Kurt Thomas and Walter Gmeindl. After completing his studies, he was immediately able to work with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra because the orchestra's previous conductor, Wilhelm Furtwangler, was suspected of collaboration and received no permit for public performances. For three years, Celibidache conducted most concerts of the famous orchestra and proved his exceptional personality. After Furtwängler's return as the head of the orchestra Celibidache mainly worked as a guest conductor without committing himself to any single orchestra for a long period, because his demands were almost impossible to fulfil, and he himself was not willing to make any concessions to his musicians or audience. At first, he continued to work mainly with Berlin orchestras - the Philharmonic Orchestra and the RIAS Berlin Radio Orchestra. After the appointment of Karajan as the principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Celibidache did not conduct the orchestra again for another 37 years. 1948 saw his debut in London. Then he frequently conducted in Italy. From 1959 he was regularly invited by the Stuttgart Radio Orchestra. From 1960-62 he held master courses at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena; the young conductors were extremely keen to be admitted. In 1962 he became the director of the Stockholm Radio Symphony Orchestra, which he completely rebuilt (until 1971). From 1973-75 he was the primary permanent guest conductor of the French Orchestre National. In 1979 he became the director of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, which he made one of the best orchestras in the world. In Munich he held master courses in orchestral conducting. Although his severe illness he didn't stop conducting until a few month before his death. He conducted the first performances of Günther Bialas' «Lamento di Orlando» (1986), Harald Genzmer's «Symphony No. 3» (1986), Peter Michael Hamel's «Symphony in three parts» (1988) and «Undine» and «Jeux des Tritons» by Hans Werner Henze. Celibidache also composed, but he refused to allow any performances of his compositions.

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