Constantin Silvestri
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Constantin Silvestri (May 13, 1913 – February 23, 1969) was a Romanian conductor and composer.
He was a vibrant conductor who became the principal conductor of the National Radio Orchestra of Romania and later of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and raised their level of performance. As with another Romanian conductor, Sergiu Celibidache, Silvestri expected to have many hours for rehearsal, and this led to very polished, well crafted performances.
Silvestri studied the piano as a child, debuting as such at age ten. His first appearance as a conductor was in 1930, with the National Radio Orchestra of Romania in his own composition Prelude and Fugue (Toccata). He conducted at the Romanian National Opera from 1935 on, and became musical director of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra 1945-53. Silvestri moved to Paris in 1956, and to England in 1957. He made his debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra that year. He settled in Bournemouth where he became the chief conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 1963, and became know for training the seaside orchestra to international standards. He became a naturalized British citizen in 1967.
Recordings for which he is particularly well known include Elgar's Overture Alassio (In the South), and Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony. His recordings received a First Prize from L'Académie Charles Cros (for Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No.9, "From the New World") and the Grand Prix du Disque (for George Enescu’s Wind Dixtuor).
Silvestri composed for orchestra, chamber, and voice. One of Silvestri’s students was the conductor Sergiu Comissiona.
He died in a London hospital from cancer, aged 55, in February 1969.
Two biographies are available for Silvestri, by Eugen Pricope and John Gritten.
[edit] External links
The Constantin Silvestri International Foundation [1]
| Preceded by Ionel Perlea |
Principal Conductors, National Radio Orchestra of Romania ?–? |
Succeeded by Iosif Conta |
| Preceded by Charles Groves |
Principal Conductors, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra 1962–1969 |
Succeeded by Paavo Berglund |
