Background
MACKERRAS, Charles was born on November 17, 1925 in Schenectady, United States of America of Australian parentage. Son of Alan and Catherine Mackerras.
MACKERRAS, Charles was born on November 17, 1925 in Schenectady, United States of America of Australian parentage. Son of Alan and Catherine Mackerras.
Student, Sydney Conservatorium Music, Australia, 1942. Student with Vaclav Talich, Prague Academy Music, 1948. Doctor of Music (honorary), University Hull, 1990.
Doctor of Music (honorary), University Nottingham, 1991. Doctor of Music (honorary), University Brno, Czech Republic, 1994. Doctor of Music (honorary), York University, England, 1994.
Doctor of Music (honorary), Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, 1994. Doctor of Music (honorary), Oxford University, England, 1997. Doctor of Music (honorary), Prague Academy Music, 1999.
Doctor of Music (honorary), Napier University, Scotland, 2000. Doctor of Music (honorary), University Sydney, 2003. Doctor of Music (honorary), University Melbourne, 2003.
Doctor of Music (honorary), Janácek Academy Music, Brno, 2004. Doctor of Music (honorary), University London, 2005.
Principal oboist Sydney (Australia) Symphony Orchestra, 1943-1946. Staff conductor English National Opera (formerly Sadler's Wells Opera), London, 1948-1954, musical director, 1970-1977. Principal conductor British Broadcasting Corporation Concert Orchestra, 1954-1956.
First conductor Hamburg Opera, 1966-1969. Chief guest conductor British Broadcasting Corporation Symphony Orchestra, 1976-1979. Chief conductor Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1982-1985.
Principal guest conductor Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, 1986-1988, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, 1992-1995, conductor laureate, 1995—2010, coordinator emeritus, 2009. Music director Orchestra of St. Luke's, 1998-2001, music director emeritus, 2001—2010. President Trinity College Music, London, 2000.
Freelance conductor with most British and many continental orchestras,c oncert tours, Australia, 1957—1966, United States coast-to-coast, 1983. Principal guest conductor San Francisco Opera, 1993—1996, principal guest conductor emeritus, 1996—2010. Principal guest conductor Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, 1993—1996, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, 1997—2003, Philharmonia Orchestra, 2002—2010.
Museum director Welsh National Opera, 1987—1992, conductor emeritus, 1993—2010, Orchestra of The Age of Enlightenment, 2007. Conductor laureate Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, 2007. Honorary president Edinburgh Festival, 2008.
Appearances at international festivals and opera houses, frequent radio and television broadcasts. Conductor commercial recordings, notably Handel, Mozart operas and symphonies, Janácek, Brahms, Beethoven, Dvorák, Mahler and Schubert. Honorary member Guildhall School Music, 2007.
Member of Orchestral Guildhall School Music (honorary).
Married Helena Judith Wilkins, 1947. 2 children.