It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Christoph von Dohnányi on Saturday 6 September at the age of 95.

Christoph von Dohnányi was one of the most distinguished conductors of his generation, renowned for his visionary leadership and uncompromising artistic standards. Born in Berlin in 1929, he was the grandson of composer Ernst von Dohnányi and came from a family deeply marked by resistance to Nazism. His early musical education included studies in Munich and with his grandfather in Florida, before launching a career that would span the world’s greatest opera houses and orchestras.

He held key positions at the Lübeck Opera, Oper Frankfurt, Hamburg State Opera, and the NDR Symphony Orchestra, and was a passionate advocate of contemporary music theatre. His tenure as Music Director of The Cleveland Orchestra from 1984 to 2002 remains one of the most celebrated in the ensemble’s history, marked by artistic excellence, international acclaim and major major tours including the orchestra’s first concerts in China and regular appearances at the leading festivals in Europe. He also presided over a transformative renovation of Severance Hall. He also held the roles of Principal Guest Conductor at Philharmonia Orchestra and Artistic Advisor at Orchestre de Paris. In 2008 he stepped down from the principal conductorship at the Philharmonia Orchestra, but held the title of ​“Honorary Conductor for Life”. Christoph collaborated regularly with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, and many others and in opera was a regular guest at the Royal Opera House, at the Salzburg Festival. He made many important recordings principally for Decca both of opera and symphonic repertoire 

“Christoph will be much missed by me personally through our work together over several decades and by everyone at HarrisonParrott including artists who had the privilege of working with him and were inspired by his musical integrity and intellectual depth. Our thoughts and condolences are with Christoph’s family, friends, and colleagues around the world.”

— Jasper Parrott