Vale Sir Charles Mackerras, CH AC CBE (1925–2010)

Australia has lost a living treasure with the passing of conductor Sir Charles Mackerras on 14 July 2010. 2MBS-FM 102.5 and the wider Australian music community are deeply saddened by this news.

Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras was born in Schenectady, New York to Australian parents. The family moved to Sydney when Mackerras was two years old. He attended Sydney Grammar School and The King's School in Parramatta, Sydney. He studied oboe, piano and composition at the NSW State Conservatorium of Music in Sydney. He was a casual oboist with the Sydney Symphony during World War II and eventually became the orchestra’s principal oboist. He settled in England in 1946 and won a British Council Scholarship in 1947, enabling him to study conducting with Václav Talich at the Prague Academy of Music.

He became principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra from 1954 to 1956. In 1963 he made his debut at London's Covent Garden. He directed the Hamburg State Opera from 1965 to 1969 and the English National Opera from 1970 to 1977. In 1972 he made his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York.

The Sydney Symphony had a long relationship with Sir Charles. He conducted the orchestra with soloist Birgit Nilsson in the opening concert of the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II, in 1973. Then, in 1982, he became the first Australian to take up the role of Sydney Symphony Chief Conductor, a position he held until 1985. Most recently, the Sydney Symphony welcomed home Sir Charles to conduct the orchestra in 2007 as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations.

‘The relationship has continued over recent years – indeed we were looking forward to welcoming Sir Charles to our BBC Proms performance in London on August 24 as our very special guest.

The connection between Sir Charles and the Sydney Symphony has run deep for over 60 years. He was a man of great musical scholarship, talent and energy. We are all deeply saddened to have lost such an eminent conductor and a special part of the Sydney Symphony family. Our thoughts are with Sir Charles’ loved ones at this time.’ – Rory Jeffes, Sydney Symphony Managing Director