Pierre Monteux

Pierre Monteux , 1875-1964, French-American conductor, studied at the Paris Conservatory. As conductor (1911-14) of Diaghilev's Ballet Russe, he directed the premieres of ballets by Stravinsky, Ravel, and Debussy. He came to the United States in 1916 to conduct the Ballet Russe on its American tour, and he remained for two seasons at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1919 to 1924. For the next 10 years he appeared as guest conductor of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra. He became conductor of the Paris Symphony Orchestra in 1930 and of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in 1936. In 1942 he became a U.S. citizen. From 1961 until his death Monteux led the London Symphony Orchestra. He was known for the purity and self-restraint of his interpretations.

Monteux, Pierre (b Paris, 1875; d Hancock, Maine, 1964). Fr.-born conductor (Amer. cit. 1942). Played va. in orch. of Paris Opéra-Comique (was prin. va. at f.p. of Pelléas et Mélisande, 1902). Early years as cond. with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in Paris, when he cond. f.ps. of Petrushka (1911), Rite of Spring (1913), Jeux (1913) and Daphnis et Chloé (1912). Cond. Paris Opéra 1913–14, incl. f.p. of The Nightingale. Salzburg Fest. 1916 (Vienna PO). Cond. NY Met 1917–19 and 1953–6, and cond. f. Amer. p. of The Golden Cockerel, 1918. Boston SO 1919–24 (introducing much modern mus.). Cond. Orchestre Symphonique de Paris 1929–38. Cond. S. Francisco SO 1935–52. Prin. cond. LSO 1961–4. Outstanding interpreter of Fr. and Russ. mus., but of much else besides.