CLASSICAL LEGENDS (PERFORMERS) : June 2011

Alexander Slobodyanik

Mr. Slobodyanik was a Ukrainian-born pianist who earned stardom in the former Soviet Union with his virtuosity and emotional interpretations of Romantic composers...

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James Lawrence Levine (pronounced /lɨˈvaɪn/; born June 23, 1943) is an American conductor and pianist. He is currently the music director of the Metropolitan Opera and of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. However, he announced his resignation as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra on March 2, 2011 due to continuing health issues. The resignation is effective September 1, 2011. Levine's first performance conducting the Metropolitan Opera was on June 5, 1971, and as of May 2011 he has conducted 2,512 Met performances. In 1997, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

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James Levine: 40 Years at The Metropolitan Opera

James Levine: Celebrating 40 Years at the Met - DVD Box Set

James Levine Conducts Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 & 10

Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 4 / Piano Concerto No. 1 / A German Requiem / (8) Lieder

Klaus Tennstedt

( Merseburg , Germany - June 6, 1926 - Kiel , Germany - 11 January 1998 ) was a German orchestra. One of the most prestigious and esteemed conductors of his generation especially appreciated in the Germanic classical and romantic repertoire. Due to ill health he retired in 1994 as conductor laureate of the LPO, died of cancer at his home in Kiel at age 71. Married to Inge Tennstedt. He left an important legacy record, highlighting his versions of works by Beethoven , Wagner , Brahms , Bruckner and integral cycle of symphonies by Gustav Mahler with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Martha Argerich

Argerich has been married three times. Her first marriage was to composer-conductor Robert Chen, with whom she had a daughter, Lyda Chen, who is a violist. From 1969 to 1973, Argerich was married to conductor Charles Dutoit, with whom she had a daughter, Anna. Argerich continues to record and perform with Dutoit. Her third husband was pianist Stephen Kovacevich, with whom she had a daughter, Stephanie.
In 1990, Argerich was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. After treatment, the cancer went into remission, but there was a reoccurrence in 1995, eventually metastasizing to her lungs and lymph nodes. Following aggressive treatment at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, which included the removal of part of her lung and use of an experimental vaccine, Argerich's cancer went into remission again. In gratitude, Argerich performed a Carnegie Hall recital benefiting the Institute. Once a heavy cigarette smoker, Argerich quit smoking following her treatment. As of 2010, Argerich remains cancer-free.

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