Bernard Haitink

BERNARD’S THRENODY

Acclaimed conductor Bernard Haitink has died after a long illness aged 92. The Dutch born Haitink survived the Nazi occupation of his homeland, before becoming conductor with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in the 1950s. From there he rose to the Concertgebouw and became one of the most in demand orchestra conductors in Europe. He was promoted to lead the London orchestra during the 1970s, and later was in charge of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Haitink was regarded for his long link to Gustav Mahler, and was seen as the foremost interpreter of Mahler’s music living, a tag with which he sometimes felt uneasy. He remains one of the few conductors to have recorded the entire works of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. Haitink was named a Companion of Order by the Queen in 2002 and won two Grammy Awards. He had stood back from his music career a few years ago due to declining health, and was recently interviewed at length for a very good BBC documentary. He was a unique pick for the Time’s up Team.

Bernard Haitink
4 March 1929 – 21 October 2021
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