Conductor Kurt Masur, who was credited with helping prevent violence after the collapse of communism in East Germany and later reinvigorated the New York Philharmonic during an 11-year stint as music director, has died at 88. Philharmonic President Matthew VanBesien announced his death in a statement Saturday, saying "it is with the deepest sadness that I write on behalf of the Masur family and the New York Philharmonic that Kurt Masur our inspiring Music Director, 1991-2002, and Music Director Emeritus passed away" earlier in the day. Masur's 11-year tenure, one of the longest in Philharmonic history, "both set a standard and left a legacy that lives on today," he said.
↧