Sir Charles Mackerras (born 1925) is known for his broad repertoire, expertise in Czech music, and use of period, performance practices with modern orchestras. Born an American, he was taken to Australia as an infant by his family. He studied oboe, piano, and composition at New South Wales Conservatorium, Sydney. He joined the
Sydney Symphony Orchestra as an oboist in 1945, and in that year also conducted the orchestra for the first time.
Mackerras traveled to Europe in 1947 and became a member of the Sadler's Wells
opera company orchestra. While in England, he won a British Council Scholarship to become a conducting student of Vaclav Talich at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. During his studies in Czechoslovakia, he developed a lifelong interest in the music of Slavonic composers, especially
Leos Janácek. After his formal training, he returned to Sadler's Wells, where he made his London debut leading Johann Strauss' Der Fledermaus, and remained on the company's conducting staff until 1954. In 1951 he conducted the British premiere of Janácek's
opera Kát'a Kabanová (1919-1921).
Following his engagement as principal conductor of the
BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1954-1956,
Mackerras guest conducted orchestras in Britain and throughout Europe. In 1963 he conducted at
Covent Garden for the first time, leading
Shostakovich's opera Katerina Ismaylova (the revised version of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk); thereafter, he conducted frequently at the house. From 1966 to 1970 he was the first conductor at the Hamburg State Opera. In 1970 he assumed the position of music director at Sadler's Wells, which changed its name to the English National Opera in 1974.
Mackerras returned to Australia in 1973 to conduct the inaugural concert of the new Sydney Opera House and also conducted the production of
Mozart's The Magic Flute during that opening year. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 19
