Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Austrian conductor and cellist, Died at 86

  Music

Nikolaus Harnoncourt was born on December 6, 1929, and died on March 5, 2016.

He was an Austrian conductor.

Nikolaus was particularly known for his historically informed performances of music from the Classical era and earlier.

Harnoncourt started out as a classical cellist, he founded his own period instrument ensemble, Concentus Musicus Wien, in the 1950s, and became a pioneer of the Early Music movement.

Since 1970, he started to conduct opera and concert performances, soon leading renowned international symphony orchestras, and appearing at leading concert halls, operatic venues and festivals.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt repertoire then widened to include composers of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Nikolaus conducted the Vienna New Year’s Concert, in 2001 and 2003.

He was also the author of numerous books, mostly on subjects of performance history and musical aesthetics.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt passed away at 86 yrs old.