R.I.P. André Previn (1929-2019)
Seven years ago – can it have been so long? – I attended a concert at St David’s Hall in Cardiff that included a performance of Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony. I enjoyed the performance so much that at the end of my blog post about the evening I asked for recommendations of a good recording. The clear favourite – which I bought straight away – was by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by André Previn.
Last night I heard that André Previn had passed away and I wanted to post a little tribute to him. Naturally, I thought of posting that Morecambe and Wise Sketch from 1971, which I love, but almost every website that has mentioned André Previn has included that, so instead I thought I’d post the Third Movement (Adagio) of the Rachmaninov Symphony I heard those years ago. It’s a gorgeous performance of a gorgeous work and, I think, a fitting tribute to a great pianist, both in classical and jazz idioms, conductor and composer who brought music (and laughter) to so many people.
R.I.P. André Previn (1929-2019)
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March 1, 2019 at 5:08 pm
For a few years, he was married to German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter (Previn is originally from Germany, having left during the Nazi times). It was Mutter’s second marriage and Previn’s fifth. Previous wives included two musicians and Mia Farrow.
March 1, 2019 at 9:08 pm
I only heard Andr´ Previn conduct once. That was with his old band, the London Symphony Orchestra, and with his former wife Anne-Sophie Mutter. After the interval they performed William Walton’s astonishing First Symphony, reliving another famous recording. It was that historic recording that I listened to last night as my own personal tribute to Previn.
I did buy a ticket for a later Previn concert, but the ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic erruption in Iceland prevented him from travelling to London, unfortunately.