Classics of the Phonograph

Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink

 
A man conducting an orchestra

Conductor Bernard Haitink. Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Bernard Haitink, born in 1929, is now in his 85th year. He is the most famous Dutch conductor since Willem Mengelberg.

Over his long career, Haitink has done an enormous amount of recording, with specialties in the music of Bruckner and Mahler.

Haitink's long association with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra has had its ups and downs. For some of his career his dependable excellence has been taken for granted, but his recent work in Chicago suggests that his musicianship is treasured there. On Saturday at 11, we'll look at the highlights of Haitink's career.