William Steinberg

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William Steinberg (originally Hans Wilhelm Steinberg) (August 1, 1899 – May 16, 1978) was a German conductor. He was born in Cologne, but left Germany for (what is now) Israel in 1936. He decided to leave Germany because the Nazis had removed him from the Frankfurt Opera in 1933 and had limited him to conducting all-Jewish orchestras. Eventually, together with Bronislaw Huberman he founded and conducted the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Steinberg left for the United States in 1938. He conducted a number of concerts with the NBC Symphony from 1938 to 1940. He became music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra from 1945 to 1952. He is best known for his tenure as music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra from 1952 to 1976. From 1958 to 1960 he conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1969 to 1972 he conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He was also principal guest conductor of the New York Philharmonic from 1966 to 1968. Steinberg guest conducted most of the major US orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Philadelphia Orchestra. Abroad he conducted the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony, and WDR Symphony of Cologne. He recorded for Capitol Records, Command Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, Everest Records, Musicraft (with the Buffalo Philharmonic, the premiere recording of Shostakovich's 7th Symphony), and RCA Victor. William Steinberg was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He died in New York City.

William Steinberg was noted throughout his career for his straightforward yet expressive musical style, leading familiar works with integrity and authority such that they sounded fresh and vital. He had a wide range of repertoire, including a surprising sympathy for English music (Elgar and Vaughan Williams). He led several important premieres, including the US premiere of Webern's Six Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6. During his first Pittsburgh season, Steinberg conducted works by Bartok, Berg, Bloch, Britten, Copland, Harris, Honegger, Milhaud, Schuman, Stravinsky, Vaughan Williams, and Villa Lobos at the Pittsburgh International Contemporary Music Festival. He was also admired as an interpreter of Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, and Mahler, and made notable concerto recordings with violinist Nathan Milstein, pianist Arthur Rubinstein, and pianist Rudolf Firkusny.

[edit] Conductor and music director

William Steinberg conducted and directed many orchestras during his life, including:

Cologne Opera: 1924
Prague opera: 1925 to 1929
Frankfurt: 1929 to 1933
Founded Israel Philharmonic (originally Palestine Symphony): 1936
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra: 1945 to 1952
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra: 1952 to 1976
London Philharmonic: 1958 to 1960
Boston Symphony Orchestra: 1969 to 1972

Preceded by Fritz Reiner	Music Director, Pittsburgh Symphony 1952–1976	Succeeded by André Previn
Preceded by Adrian Boult	Principal Conductor, London Philharmonic Orchestra 1958–1960	Succeeded by John Pritchard
Preceded by Erich Leinsdorf	Music Director, Boston Symphony Orchestra 1969–1972	Succeeded by Seiji Ozawa