erich kunzel
Erich Kunzel, the longtime conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, died Tuesday at the age of 74, the orchestra announced.
Kunzel had suffered from cancer of the pancreas, liver and colon for several months. He died at his home in Swans Island, Maine.
“The world has lost a musical giant, and we have lost a dear friend,” said Trey Devey, president of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, in a statement.
Kunzel joined the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra as associate conductor in 1965, at the invitation of Maestro Max Rudolf. He began conducting pops concerts with the orchestra that year, then took the helm of the Cincinnati Pops when it was spun off from the symphony in 1977.
Over the years, Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra have performed at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, the Grand Ol’ Opry and the Blossom Music Festival, and recorded more than 85 albums on the Telarc label. The orchestra’s international tours included playing at the opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games in China last summer.
Kunzel also conducted the National Symphony in Washington, D.C., in its nationally televised Memorial Day concerts. In 2006, Kunzel was presented with the 2006 National Medal of Arts by President and Mrs. Bush at the White House.
Locally Kunzel was a well-known figure, as beloved for his showmanship as his musical skills. He spearheaded the fundraising for Cincinnati Public Schools’ new School for Creative and Performing Arts, now under construction at Elm Street and Central Parkway.
Kunzel is survived by his wife, Brunhilde. Besides Maine, the couple have homes in Newport and Naples, Fla.
The orchestra said its fall Pops concerts will go on as scheduled, with guest conductors.
Erich Kunzel, the longtime conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, died Tuesday at the age of 74, the orchestra announced.
Kunzel had suffered from cancer of the pancreas, liver and colon for several months. He died at his home in Swans Island, Maine.
“The world has lost a musical giant, and we have lost a dear friend,” said Trey Devey, president of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, in a statement.
Kunzel joined the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra as associate conductor in 1965, at the invitation of Maestro Max Rudolf. He began conducting pops concerts with the orchestra that year, then took the helm of the Cincinnati Pops when it was spun off from the symphony in 1977.
Over the years, Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra have performed at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, the Grand Ol’ Opry and the Blossom Music Festival, and recorded more than 85 albums on the Telarc label. The orchestra’s international tours included playing at the opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games in China last summer.
Kunzel also conducted the National Symphony in Washington, D.C., in its nationally televised Memorial Day concerts. In 2006, Kunzel was presented with the 2006 National Medal of Arts by President and Mrs. Bush at the White House.
Locally Kunzel was a well-known figure, as beloved for his showmanship as his musical skills. He spearheaded the fundraising for Cincinnati Public Schools’ new School for Creative and Performing Arts, now under construction at Elm Street and Central Parkway.
Kunzel is survived by his wife, Brunhilde. Besides Maine, the couple have homes in Newport and Naples, Fla.
The orchestra said its fall Pops concerts will go on as scheduled, with guest conductors.
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