Sergiu Celibidache

Romanian Orchestral Conductor

Sergiu Celibidache was a renowned Romanian conductor, composer, and teacher known for his unique approach to orchestral performance. Born on June 28, 1912, in Roman, Romania, he rose to prominence in the classical music world for his insistence on extensive rehearsal time and his refusal to make commercial recordings, believing that music was a transient art best experienced live. Celibidache studied at the Berlin Academy of Music and during his career served as the principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic immediately after World War II. He later worked with various orchestras across Europe, including the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic, where he was the principal conductor from 1979 until his death in 1996.