News

Sir Charles Mackerras to receive honorary Doctor of Music

Media Release, Friday 12 September 2003

The renowned conductor Sir Charles Mackerras is to be awarded an honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Melbourne next Monday 15 September.

Sir Charles Mackerras is a luminary in the music world and a conductor of great colour and flair who achieved acclaim early in his career for interpretations of operas by Puccini, Verdi and Mozart.

Sir Charles is to be awarded the honorary degree in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to music as a conductor, particularly in the revival and performance of neglected operatic repertoire”.

Born in 1925 and educated at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Prague Academy of Music, Charles Mackerras was principal oboe in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra before launching on a major conducting career in Europe.

He has conducted some of the world’s leading orchestras and operas and made many pioneering recordings. His 1965 version of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro is considered a major force in the development of the authentic performance practice movement.

In November 1991 he conducted Don Giovanni at the reopening of the Tyl Theatre, Prague, where the opera had its first performance.

As well as achieving the recognition of his nation with the Companion of the Order of Australia, he is also: Commander of the British Empire, Knight Bachelor, Medal of Merit of the Czech Republic, Fellow of the Royal College of Music, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, Doctor of Music of the University of Hull and Doctor of Music of the University of Nottingham.


Who:
Conductor Sir Charles Mackerras

What:
Conferring of Honorary Doctor of Music

When:
Monday 15 September at 3.30pm

Where:
Melba Hall, Conservatorium of Music
The University of Melbourne
Royal Parade, Parkville