Georges Prêtre in an artists' discussion with Clemens Hellsberg

14.10.2009, 19:00

Artists' discussion with Georges Prêtre

In 2010 he will again conduct the New Year's concert of the Vienna Philharmonic and delight millions of people worldwide. Georges Prêtre, conducting legend, energetic and electrifyingly creative at the age of 85, shines with ever new facets. He will speak with Clemens Hellsberg about his artistic self-image, his experiences as a music manager and conductor - and about the coming New Year's concert.

About the maestro Georges Prêtre
Prêtre was born in 1924 in Douai (Northern France), graduated from the Conservatoire de Paris and had his opera debut in Marseille as early as 1946 at 22 years of age. He subsequently went on to: Opéra Comique in Paris, Opéra National de Paris, Metropolitan Opera New York and La Scala in Milan.

In 1970 he became the music director of the Opéra National de Paris, again and again he conducted the Berlin Philharmonic as well as the large US and London orchestras. His close relationship with Vienna began in 1986: He was elected first guest conductor of the Vienna Symphony, with which he also undertook international concert tours (Europe, Japan, USA).

One of the highlights of Prêtre's career was certainly in July 1989, when he opened the Opéra Bastille in Paris as a conductor. In the year 1999 he conducted several concerts for the 100th birthday of Francis Poulenc. To mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Giuseppe Verdi in 2001 he directed several performances of the latter's requiem. In the same year he celebrated a sensational success at La Scala with a new production of Turandot.

Georges Prêtre returned again and again to his favourite European orchestras and festivals: Santa Cecilia di Roma, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Orchestra del Teatro La Fenice di Venezia, Vienna Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, North German Radio Symphony Orchestra Hamburg, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden as well as in France the Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Paris and Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse.

In 2008 he conducted for the first time the New Year concert of the Vienna Philharmonic: The acclaimed performance provided more than enough reason to invite him back for 2010.

Georges Prêtre is one of the few French artists who have received the highest distinctions both in their home country and abroad. In 2004 he was thereby commander of the French Légion d'honneur and honorary member of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. For his 80th birthday he was also awarded the Austrian Honorary Cross for Science and Art First Class.

About Prof. Dr. Clemens Hellsberg
Born in 1952 in Linz, he already took violin lessons with his father at the age of four and a half. From 1972 he was educated at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and completed his musicology degree in 1980. As early as 1976 he entered the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera as second violist, two years later he became first violinist, then from 1990 until 1993 and from 1996 he was vice-chairman of the orchestra. Since 1997 Prof. Dr. Clemens Hellsberg has been CEO of the Vienna Philharmonic.

Tickets: 10.- Euro (free entrance for MemberCard holders, general seating)

Tickets are available at the Haus der Musik ticket office daily from 10 am to 10 pm.