Maazel, Lorin (Varencove) (1930– )

US conductor and violinist. His orchestral preparation is noted for its precision and dynamic range. He was music director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1993 until 2002, when he became music director of the New York Philharmonic.

Maazel has conducted operas around the world, including at the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth (conducting Lohengrin in 1960 and the Ring cycle in 1968) and at La Scala, Milan. He has also conducted and recorded the complete symphonic works of Beethoven, Mahler, Rachmaninov, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky.

Maazel was born in Paris, France, the son of a US singer. Taken to the USA as a child, he soon displayed great musical ability, conducting the New York Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 9. At 15 he formed his own string quartet and also appeared as a solo violinist. He joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and became its conductor in 1949. He was both music director of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin, and chief conductor of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra 1965–71. He then became music director of the Cleveland Orchestra 1972–82, general manager and chief conductor of the Vienna Opera 1982–84, and music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra 1988–1996.