Georges Prêtre

Georges Prêtre was one of the leading conductors of the last half of the 20th century, especially known for operatic conducting and performances of French music. His long career, which lasted more than six decades, included working closely with Francis Poulenc and Maria Callas; long leadership roles with the Paris Opéra, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony, among other institutions; and premieres of several significant compositions. His knowledge of the orchestral repertoire was demonstrated by him conducting Debussy and Ravel from memory.