Prêtre, Georges (1924– )

French conductor. He studied at Douai (south of Lille) and in Paris, making his debut in 1946 at the Paris Opéra-Comique; he was music director there 1956–59. He made his London debut in 1961 and his New York Metropolitan Opera debut in 1964. He made frequent performances and recordings with Maria Callas. In 1959, he conducted the first performance of Francis Poulenc's La voix humaine.