Cluytens, André

Born Mar. 26, 1905, in Antwerp; died June 3, 1967, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Haut-de-Seine. French conductor. Belgian by birth.

Cluytens graduated from courses in piano (1921) and harmony and counterpoint (1922) at the Antwerp Conservatory. He performed as a solo pianist and worked as concertmaster at the Royal Opera House (Antwerp), where in 1927 he made his debut as an opera conductor. He conducted in many opera houses in France (beginning in 1932). In 1938 he made his first appearance as a symphony conductor. In 1943 he became conductor (vice-president, 1949) of the Concert Society of the Paris Conservatory and Symphony Orchestra of National Radio and Television. In 1947 he became music director of the Opéra Comique. In 1960 he also became head of the National Symphony Orchestra of Belgium. Cluytens began making extensive tours in the 1950’s (performing in the USSR for the first time in 1959). He is a recipient of the Legion of Honor.