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{{Short description|Hungarian-French conductor (1903–1989)}}
'''Georges Sébastian''' (August 17, 1903, [[Budapest]] - April 12, 1989, [[La Hauteville]]) was a French [[conductor (music)|conductor]] of Hungarian birth, particularly associated with [[Wagner]] and the post-romantic repertory ([[Bruckner]], [[Mahler]], [[Richard Strauss]]).
'''Georges Sébastian''' (August 17, 1903 – April 12, 1989) was a French [[conductor (music)|conductor]] of Hungarian birth, particularly associated with [[Wagner]] and the post-romantic repertory ([[Bruckner]], [[Mahler]], [[Richard Strauss]]). He was born in [[Budapest]] and died in [[La Hauteville]].


Born '''György Sebestyén''', he studied first the piano and violin in his native Budapest, before turning to composition. He then worked with [[Leo Weiner]], [[Zoltán Kodály]] and [[Béla Bartók]]. In 1921, he was engaged as [[répétiteur]] at the [[Munich State Opera]], where he worked with [[Bruno Walter]] and became his assistant conductor the following year.
Born '''György Sebestyén''', he studied first the piano and violin in his native Budapest, before turning to composition. He then worked with [[Leo Weiner]], [[Zoltán Kodály]] and [[Béla Bartók]]. In 1921, he was engaged as [[répétiteur]] at the [[Munich State Opera]], where he worked with [[Bruno Walter]] and became his assistant conductor the following year.


He then spent one season as assistant conductor at the [[Metropolitan Opera]] in New York (1923-24, where he was heard as pianist). Upon his return in Europe, he conducted at the opera houses of [[Hamburg]] and [[Leipzig]], before becoming first conductor at the [[Berlin State Opera]] (1927-30). He then became musical director of the [[Moscow]] Radio and Philharmonic Orchestra (1931-37). In 1935, he conducted there the first performance of the original version of [[Moussorgsky]]'s opera, ''[[Boris Godunov (opera)|Boris Godunov]]''.
He then spent one season from 1923–24 as assistant conductor at the [[Metropolitan Opera]] in New York, where he was heard as pianist. Upon his return in Europe, he conducted at the opera houses of [[Hamburg]] and [[Leipzig]], before becoming first conductor at the [[Städtische Oper Berlin]] (1927–30). He then became musical director of the [[Moscow]] Radio and Philharmonic Orchestra (1931–37). In 1935, he conducted there the first performance of the original version of [[Moussorgsky]]'s opera, ''[[Boris Godunov (opera)|Boris Godunov]]''.


In 1938, he returned to America and spent the war years there, holding several posts, conductor at the [[San Francisco Opera]], musical director of a radio program for [[CBS]] and of the [[Scranton]] Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1938, he returned to America and spent the war years there, holding several posts including conductor at the [[San Francisco Opera]], musical director of a radio program for [[CBS]], and musical director of the [[Scranton]] Philharmonic Orchestra.


After the war, he returned to Europe, and settled in France. He made his debut at the [[Palais Garnier]] in 1947, and was to conduct there
After the war, he returned to Europe, and settled in France. He made his debut at the [[Palais Garnier]] in 1947, and was to conduct there the debuts of both [[Maria Callas]] (1958) and [[Renata Tebaldi]] (1959). He was also very active conducting on French radio, notably the complete symphonies of Bruckner and Mahler.
the debuts of both [[Maria Callas]] (1958) and [[Renata Tebaldi]] (1959). He was also very active conducting on French radio, notably the complete symphonies of Bruckner and Mahler.


He recorded complete sets of ''[[Lakmé]]'' (with [[Mado Robin]], 1952) and ''[[Mignon]]'' (1953) for [[Decca Records]]; and ''[[Thaïs (opera)|Thaïs]]'' (with [[Géori Boué]], 1952) and ''[[Werther]]'' (p.1953) for [[Urania]]. His best-known recording may be, however, that of excerpts from ''[[Carmen]]'' (1946), with [[Risë Stevens]], [[Raoul Jobin]] and [[Robert Weede]], for [[Columbia Records]]. Among Sébastian's "pirate" recordings are ''[[Elektra (opera)|Elektra]]'' (1966) and ''[[Salome (opera)|Salome]]'' (1967), both with [[Anja Silja]].
He recorded complete sets of ''[[Lakmé]]'' (with [[Mado Robin]], 1952) and ''[[Mignon]]'' (1953) for [[Decca Records]]; and ''[[Thaïs (opera)|Thaïs]]'' (with [[Géori Boué]], 1952) and ''[[Werther]]'' (with Suzanne Juyol, 1952) for [[Urania]]. His best-known recording may be, however, that of excerpts from ''[[Carmen]]'' (1946), with [[Risë Stevens]], [[Nadine Conner]], [[Raoul Jobin]] and [[Robert Weede]], for [[Columbia Records]]. Among Sébastian's "pirate" recordings are ''[[Elektra (opera)|Elektra]]'' (1966) and ''[[Salome (opera)|Salome]]'' (1967), both with [[Anja Silja]].


[[EMI]] has published the kinescope of the Callas debut, "La Grande Nuit de l'Opéra," on DVD. Included are excerpts from ''La forza del destino'', ''Norma'', ''Il trovatore'', ''Il barbiere di Siviglia'', and a staged Act II of ''Tosca'' (also with [[Albert Lance]] and [[Tito Gobbi]]).
[[EMI]] has published the kinescope of the Callas debut, "La Grande Nuit de l'Opéra," on DVD. Included are excerpts from ''La forza del destino'', ''Norma'', ''Il trovatore'', ''Il barbiere di Siviglia'', and a staged Act II of ''Tosca'' (also with [[Albert Lance]] and [[Tito Gobbi]]).


==References==
== Sources ==
⚫
* ''Le dictionnaire des interprètes'', [[Alain Pâris]] ([[Éditions Robert Laffont]], 1989). {{ISBN|2-221-06660-X}}

⚫
* ''Le dictionnaire des interprètes'', Alain Pâris (Éditions Robert Lafont, 1989). ISBN 2-221-06660-X


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9JkioE-dEw Georges Sébastian conducting an excerpt from ''Il trovatore''], with Maria Callas, 1958.
* {{YouTube|M9JkioE-dEw|Georges Sébastian conducting an excerpt from ''Il trovatore''}}, with Maria Callas, 1958.
* [http://www.soundfountain.org/rem/remsebas.html Georges Sebastian's Profile at The Remington Site]

{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Sebastian, Georges
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sebastian, Georges}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sebastian, Georges}}
[[Category:1903 births]]
[[Category:1903 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Budapest]]
[[Category:Musicians from Budapest]]
[[Category:French conductors (music)]]
[[Category:French male conductors (music)]]
[[Category:20th-century French conductors (music)]]

[[Category:20th-century French male musicians]]
[[ca:Georges Sebastian]]
[[fr:Georges Sébastian]]
[[it:Georges Sébastian]]
[[ja:ジョルジュ・セバスティアン]]

Latest revision as of 07:40, 22 May 2024

Georges Sébastian (August 17, 1903 – April 12, 1989) was a French conductor of Hungarian birth, particularly associated with Wagner and the post-romantic repertory (Bruckner, Mahler, Richard Strauss). He was born in Budapest and died in La Hauteville.

Born György Sebestyén, he studied first the piano and violin in his native Budapest, before turning to composition. He then worked with Leo Weiner, Zoltán Kodály and Béla Bartók. In 1921, he was engaged as répétiteur at the Munich State Opera, where he worked with Bruno Walter and became his assistant conductor the following year.

He then spent one season from 1923–24 as assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he was heard as pianist. Upon his return in Europe, he conducted at the opera houses of Hamburg and Leipzig, before becoming first conductor at the Städtische Oper Berlin (1927–30). He then became musical director of the Moscow Radio and Philharmonic Orchestra (1931–37). In 1935, he conducted there the first performance of the original version of Moussorgsky's opera, Boris Godunov.

In 1938, he returned to America and spent the war years there, holding several posts including conductor at the San Francisco Opera, musical director of a radio program for CBS, and musical director of the Scranton Philharmonic Orchestra.

After the war, he returned to Europe, and settled in France. He made his debut at the Palais Garnier in 1947, and was to conduct there the debuts of both Maria Callas (1958) and Renata Tebaldi (1959). He was also very active conducting on French radio, notably the complete symphonies of Bruckner and Mahler.

He recorded complete sets of Lakmé (with Mado Robin, 1952) and Mignon (1953) for Decca Records; and Thaïs (with Géori Boué, 1952) and Werther (with Suzanne Juyol, 1952) for Urania. His best-known recording may be, however, that of excerpts from Carmen (1946), with Risë Stevens, Nadine Conner, Raoul Jobin and Robert Weede, for Columbia Records. Among Sébastian's "pirate" recordings are Elektra (1966) and Salome (1967), both with Anja Silja.

EMI has published the kinescope of the Callas debut, "La Grande Nuit de l'Opéra," on DVD. Included are excerpts from La forza del destino, Norma, Il trovatore, Il barbiere di Siviglia, and a staged Act II of Tosca (also with Albert Lance and Tito Gobbi).

Sources

[edit]
  • Le dictionnaire des interprètes, Alain Pâris (Éditions Robert Laffont, 1989). ISBN 2-221-06660-X
[edit]
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