Charles Mackerras (1925-2008). American-born Australian musician, conductor, director and musical arranger

Charles Mackerras was born in the United States of America, in New York State, in 1925, but was brought up in Sydney, Australia. He studied there, at the New South Wales Conservatory, after which he became principal oboist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He emigrated to Britain in 1947.

During 1948, Mackerras spent time in Prague, studying under Václav Talich, which initiated a life-long devotion to Czech music in general and Leoš Janáček in particular. That same year he became a staff conductor for Sadler’s Wells Opera and, in 1951, conducted the first British performance of Janacek’s Katya Kabanova. He also arranged and conducted Arthur Sullivan’s music for the Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet’s production of John Cranko’s Pineapple Poll. Later, in 1954, Mackerras arranged music by Giuseppe Verdi for Cranko’s The Lady and the Fool.

Mackerras was later the principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra. In 1963 he made his debut at Covent Garden with Dmitri Shostakovich’s Katerina Ismailova. From 1966 to 1969 he was chief conductor of the Hamburg State Opera, and from 1970 to 1977 the music director of Sadler’s Wells Opera, which became English National Opera (ENO) in 1974. Among other achievements during this time at ENO were his notable collaborations with the mezzo-soprano Janet Baker. He worked with distinction with many orchestras and opera companies, including San Francisco Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, New York, and Glyndebourne Festival Opera. From 1997 until 2003 Mackerras was principal guest conductor for the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

As a conductor Mackerras was known for his work in the music of George Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Czech composers. He was famous for the authenticity and the life of his performances, and also for his dislike of opera productions which, in his view, distorted the nature of the work. In later years he insisted on consulting with a prospective producer before starting work on an opera. Charles Mackerras died of cancer in London in 2008, working until the last. He was appointed CBE in 1974, knighted in 1979 and made a Companion of Honour in 2003.