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Bernard Herrmann

1911 - 1975

American

Summary

By the time of his premature death in December 1975, Bernard Herrmann was a well-known figure on the London musical scene, both as a composer with a formidable list of major works to his name, and as a conductor, the role in which he first made his mark, and in which he gave the most tangible proof of his great interest in British music.He was born in 1911 in New York, and studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar of the Juilliard School. At New York University his teachers included Philip James and Percy Grainger whose enquiring and enterprising attitude made a great impression on the young student composer.In 1931 he founded the New Chamber Orchestra of New York, which he conducted until he was appointed staff conductor of the Columbia Broadcasting System three years later. He became conductor-in-chief of the CBS Symphony Orchestra in 1940, a post he held for fifteen years, and appeared regularly with many American orchestras. It was during this period that he attracted attention through the very large number of British compositions he introduced to the American public.His compositions of the 1930s and 1940s made a great impact and earned him something of a reputation for being the enfant terrible of American music. Although perhaps best known for his film scores, particularly through his association with Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Wells, he also wrote a number of important concert, operatic and chamber works. Wuthering Heights (1950), an opera in four acts, was first performed in 1982 in the States by Portland Opera, and the choral cantata for male voices Moby Dick (1938) received its premiere with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. A Portrait of Hitch (1968), a short orchestral piece dedicated to Alfred Hitchcock, is based on music written for the film The Trouble with Harry.Active to the end despite poor health, at the time of his death Herrmann was writing a new film score and making plans for several gramophone recordings.

Biography

By the time of his premature death in December 1975, Bernard Herrmann was a well-known figure on the London musical scene, both as a composer with a formidable list of major works to his name, and as a conductor, the role in which he first made his mark, and in which he gave the most tangible proof of his great interest in British music.He was born in 1911 in New York, and studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar of the Juilliard School. At New York University his teachers included Philip James and Percy Grainger whose enquiring and enterprising attitude made a great impression on the young student composer.In 1931 he founded the New Chamber Orchestra of New York, which he conducted until he was appointed staff conductor of the Columbia Broadcasting System three years later. He became conductor-in-chief of the CBS Symphony Orchestra in 1940, a post he held for fifteen years, and appeared regularly with many American orchestras. It was during this period that he attracted attention through the very large number of British compositions he introduced to the American public.His compositions of the 1930s and 1940s made a great impact and earned him something of a reputation for being the enfant terrible of American music. Although perhaps best known for his film scores, particularly through his association with Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Wells, he also wrote a number of important concert, operatic and chamber works. Wuthering Heights (1950), an opera in four acts, was first performed in 1982 in the States by Portland Opera, and the choral cantata for male voices Moby Dick (1938) received its premiere with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. A Portrait of Hitch (1968), a short orchestral piece dedicated to Alfred Hitchcock, is based on music written for the film The Trouble with Harry.Active to the end despite poor health, at the time of his death Herrmann was writing a new film score and making plans for several gramophone recordings.

News

Performances

23rd November 2024

PERFORMERS
Yakima Symphony Orchestra
CONDUCTOR
Lawrence Golan
LOCATION
Capitol Theatre, Yakima, WA, United States of America

8th December 2024

PERFORMERS
Musica Viva
CONDUCTOR
Nicolas Hrudnik
LOCATION
Die Glocke, Bremen, Germany

8th February 2025

SOLOISTS
Joe Alessi;
PERFORMERS
Fort Collins Symphony
CONDUCTOR
Wes Kenney
LOCATION
Lincoln Center of Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America

3rd May 2025

SOLOISTS
Joe Alessi;
PERFORMERS
Fort Collins Symphony
CONDUCTOR
Wes Kenney
LOCATION
Lincoln Center of Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America

10th May 2025

SOLOISTS
; Tom Hooten
PERFORMERS
Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra
CONDUCTOR
Paul Bhasin
LOCATION
Johns Creek United Methodist Church, Johns Creek, GA, United States of America
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Discography