Just in: A much-loved conductor dies at 87

The 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.