The American conductor, composer and violinist Lorin Maazel was born in France
in 1930 where he was a child prodigy making his performing debut at the age of
eight. His parents emigrated to Pittsburgh, USA and Maazel's formative years
were spent in that region.
At the age of 20 Maazel was engaged as a conductor with the Gershwin Concert
Orchestra and he rapidly became a prominent figure within classical music in
Europe. By comparison, his career in America developed at a more leisurely pace
and it wasn't until later when he was appointed music director of the Cleveland
Orche...