Born in 1925 of Australian parents in the United States, Sir Charles Mackerras studied in Sydney and Prague and made his debut as an opera conductor at Sadler's Wells. He was First Conductor of the Hamburg Opera (1966-69) and Musical Director of both Sadler's Wells (later the English National) Opera (1970-87) and of Welsh National Opera (1987-92), where his notable Janácek productions -- among many others -- won great acclaim.
Mackerras has recently been appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, following his lifelong association with both the orchestra and many aspects of Czech musical life.
In 1997 Sony Classical released his recording of Le delizie dell'amor, featuring the soprano Andrea Rost. His most recent release for the label is Lucia di Lammermoor with the Hanover Band (S2K 63174). Other projects for Sony Classical include recordings of Chopin's two piano concertos with Emanuel Ax -- the first will appear next year (SK 60771) and the second (SK 63371) has already been released.
Mackerras is Conductor Laureate of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, having been their Principal Guest Conductor from 1992 to 1995, and was Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from 1993 until 1996.
He is now Conductor Emeritus of the Welsh National Opera, where in recent years noted successes have been Tristan und Isolde, The Yeoman of the Guard, and La clemenza di Tito (all of which productions were brought to London). His long association with the Royal Opera includes the recent productions of Gounod's Romeo et Juliette and Handel's Semele.
Mackerras has undertaken much research into performance practice of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. One of the highlights of the 1991 season was the reopening of the Estates Theatre in Prague, scene of the original premiere of Don Giovanni. Mackerras conducted a new production of that opera to mark the bicentenary of Mozart's death.
From 1993 to 1996 Mackerras was Principal Guest Conductor of the San Francisco Opera. He has a long association with the Metropolitan Opera in New York and has recently conducted The Makropulos Case with the company.
He will return for Katya Kabanova and Die Zauberflöte.
Mackerras received a CBE in 1974 and was knighted for his services to music in 1979. At the end of 1996 he received The Medal of Merit from the Czech Republic, and last year he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia. He has been awarded honorary doctorates from the Universities of Hull, York, Nottingham, Brno, Griffith (in Brisbane, Australia) and finally Oxford (1997). Mackerras celebrated his seventieth birthday in 1995 with gala concerts with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in Edinburgh, the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff and with the San Francisco Opera.
