Kurt Masur

From 1948 bis 1951 Masur was Kapellmeister in Halle (Saale), from 1951–1953 Kapellmeister in Erfurt and 1953–1955 at the City Theater in Leipzig. Masur conducted the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra for three years ending in 1958 and again from 1967 to 1972. He also worked with the Komische Oper of East Berlin. In 1970, he became Kapellmeister of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, serving in that post until 1996. With that orchestra, he performed Beethoven's ninth symphony at the celebration of German reunification in 1990. In 1991, Masur became music director of the New York Philharmonic (NYP). In that capacity, he directed the Philharmonic in a performance of Brahms's Deutsches Requiem in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. In 2000, Masur became principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) and held this position until 2007. In April 2002, Masur became music director of the Orchestre National de France (ONF) and served in this post until 2008.