Sir Charles Mackerras (1925-2010) began his career as an oboist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra but subsequently achieved fame both as conductor and as musical scholar. Following his arrival in Europe in 1946 he studied conducting in Prague and then worked on the staff of Sadler’s Wells Opera for whom he conducted the first British performance of Janáček’s Káta Kabanová in 1951. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s he not only made numerous recordings with British orchestras, continuing his fine work at Sadler’s Wells (later English National Opera), but also between 1966 – 70 he was closely involved with the Hamburg State Opera. In 1987 he was appointed Musical Director of Welsh National Opera and it was during his period with this company that he made his long-awaited Glyndebourne debut in 1990.
Mackerras’s repertoire was wide and varied but of especial note are his performing editions of operas of the baroque and classical periods, his championing of Czech music and of the works of Sullivan (many feared that once copyright expired on Sullivan’s music expired in 1950, that it would open the floodgates to all sorts of perversions: they were agreeably surprised by Mackerras’ superb ballet score Pineapple Poll – a true labour of love). Mackerras was awarded the Janáček medal in 1978 and for services to music was knighted in 1979.
