Just in: A much-loved conductor dies at 87
RIPThe Czech News Agency reports that Zdenek Macal died yesterday at the age of 87. In a long career he conducted 170 orchestras worldwide, culminating in a four-year spell as chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic from 2003 to 2007.
Among other positions, he was chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony, leaving after just five concerts in 1986 to become music director of the Milwaukee Symphony. Later, in 1993, he was music director of the New Jersey Symphony. A US citizen he had been living abroad for three decades when he returned to restore stability to the Czech Philharmonic
Universally regarded as a safe pair of hands, he was never short of work, or friends. He made dozens of recordings.
In 1990 he told Bruce Duffie: ‘In the whole of my life I started a few times from the beginning. I started my career in Czechoslovakia, and then after the Russian invasion we left in ’68. So I started again and had my base in Western Europe. We came every year a little to the United States, but my basis was in Europe. We were living in Switzerland and I spent most of my time in Germany, but we traveled everywhere. Then eight years ago [1982] we moved to the United States. We have the home in California, and for the first two or three years I spent about half and half, Europe and the United States. Then more and more I was involved here. Basically, if you conduct here, then people know you here — especially if you are here for several years. I was almost everywhere, but a few years ago it happened that simply I came to the city the first time and they didn’t know about me, not at all. There is communication, so the professional people know about you. But for the audiences, if you are not playing there, if you are not conducting in the city, very often they forgot you. Even if you conduct once, it needs a few visits before you are a familiar face. So twenty years ago I established my reputation in Western Europe when I left Czechoslovakia, and then we moved here so it took time to establish my position here. But still, if you are not enough known so you must go there, you must go there. Now the time is such that I can concentrate on other things. But still, if you are in demand it’s hard to say no.’
Full interview here.
I saw him step in at the last minute in Philadelphia for an ailing Riccardo Muti. It turned out to be one of the greatest concerts I ever saw. Truly a great conductor and musician. Sorry we didn’t see more of him in Philly.
I also saw him years ago in Philly, but at an outdoor summer concert at the Mann.
Who on Earth would give this comment a Thumbs-down ?? What’s wrong with this world ??!
Sadly, it happens all the time. Whenever Norman posts any kind of obituary notice, it attracts at least one, sometimes many more, thumbs down. The world is full of morons, and many hide behind ridiculous monikers. Almost certainly this comment will also attract a thumbs down. Are you ready, you moronic folk out there?
One should NEVER underestimate the number of classical music lovers who are off their meds.
His recording of Mahler 7 is really great
What a well-lived life. Not one of the superstars for reasons hard to understand – a superb conductor who made all too few recordings. And he wasn’t afraid of lesser-known repertoire. His recordings on the Koss label are fantastic! RIP.
Someone in the know once confided to me that Zdeněk Mácal’s career was stymied in the US because he was not favored by Ronald Wilford. I have no idea if that is true or not but it did seem as if his fame should have been greater given his talents.
Mácal was fairly prolific on the Koss Classics label alone, and there were also the recordings he made for EMI, Telarc, Delos and other more familiar labels. A complete Dvořák symphony cycle (with many tone poems and overtures as fillers), Beethoven’s 9th, both the Berlioz Symphonie fantastique AND Lélio, ou Le retour à la vie, a Kodály disc, and much else besides including contemporary music such as David Ott, John Duffy, and Roberto Sierra. Unfortunately for Mácal and the Milwaukee Symphony the Koss record label’s business plan was premised on selling their discs not so much in record stores but as audiophile items to be sold in the same audio stores that sold Koss headphones. They did that, and the discs often received exceptional reviews, but the fact remained that most serious record collectors visit (or visited) record stores far more often than they do or did audio emporiums.
There were many things Mácal did exceptionally well, especially when he would wander away a bit from standard repertoire. I still remember the Martinů “Opening of the Wells” that he did in Milwaukee. It cannot have been familiar to anyone on stage (except himself) or out in the hall but it was exceptionally well prepared. A member of the Milwaukee Symphony wind section once told me it was a pity Mácal was unnecessarily timid about programming new music because he had never worked under a conductor who was better at studying, preparing and conducting a newly composed piece. Mácal likely could have taken more chances and his Milwaukee audience would have gone along with him, and his loyalty to certain soloists could get tiresome but I do not want to get negative when there are so many positive things to remember about his tenure here. As happens his departure from Milwaukee was not without the usual friction but unlike other past music directors, I cannot recall if he was ever invited back for a guest stint.
This is very sad news. I always enjoyed performing under Maestro Macal in the MSO
I understand that he was asked back but do not know any details. We went to Japan with him and made many recordings.
We also had a lot of laughs together. It would be nice if the Koss Classic recordings could be made available again.
I’m a member of the MSO who was hired by Mácal. I was under the impression that he was invited back several times but always declined. I think he was unhappy about how he’d been treated by the board and management, and with cause.
Heard him in Prague – a conductor of real culture and heart.
An extraordinarily well travelled and well respected conductor who gifted many orchestras and countless audiences with his always flairful exhuberance! RIP, Deni!
Goodbye, great maestro and friend.
Also remembered by his cameo appearance in Nodame Cantabile, a Japanese television drama. RIP.
Only saw him once–a fantastic Mahler 1 with Milwaukee long ago. The ländler rolicked and rocked like none I had heard before. And the klezmer band transported one to the Bohemian streets where Mahler (and Macal) first heart it.
I remember a great Franck symphony with the Halle and when I went to New York to hear Tennstedt in Mahler 6, he stepped in (conducted in New Jersey of course) and it was outstanding.
I heard him a few times with the Halle in the late 1970s. Excellent always.
RIP Maestro Macal. A lovely man, a wonderful conductor, and a terrific teacher.
I played for him for 6 seasons in Milwaukee. There was no better stick technician or accompanist. And his Dvořák was unparalleled. His 8th and 9th symphonies with us on Koss were simply breathtaking.
We did a legendary Stabat Mater with him in 1987 that is actually available (as a radio recording) on the MSO website under the “MSO Onstage 2021 season” tab.
But he did a lot of rep really, really well. He did great Mahler, the best “Pictures” and “Firebird” I’ve ever done, and some wonderful energetic Mozart as well (including a performance of the Symphony 34, a piece that no one else ever seems to play).
And he was a good boss as well. He rehearsed well, he passed out compliments when merited, and was generally very supportive of his musicians.
I think he got in his own way in terms of career development, although I was pleased for him when he ended up back with the Czech Phil – and baffled when he quit.
One of the greats of his generation, and a character to boot.
I remember in my youth buying some of Maestro Macal’s recordings which appeared on the Classics For Pleasure label (remember them?). Featured composers included Mozart, Bruckner and Dvorak – the recordings were uniformly excellent and I was particularly fond of his LPO sourced ‘New World’ Symphony – RIP Sir, and thank you.
Great recording of the Dvorak Cello Concerto, Anja Thauer and the Czech PO, conducted by Zdenek Macal.
RIP, Maestro.
I had a subscription to the NJ Symphony when he was music director. Memorable performances of Carmina Burana as well as anything Dvorak. He took time to make brief remarks to the audience before his performances. But on one occasion at the start of the slow movement of the New World Symphony, he abruptly stopped the orchestra and lashed out at the audience for opening their candy rappers during the performance. At concerts after that, you could here a pin drop during the quiet moments. Such was Mr. Macal and the orchestra never sounded better under his leadership.
I remember playing under him many years ago and very much enjoying it. It seemed like he deserved a more prominent career than he had.
Something is wrong here either with him or the system, maybe both: “he conducted 170 orchestras worldwide… .”