Andre Previn — the multifaceted musician whose work ranged from composing Oscar-winning film scores to playing jazz piano to conducting the world’s elite orchestras — died on Thursday. He was 89.
The prolific German-American musician — who won four Oscars, 10 Grammys and a coveted Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement honour during his storied career — also had his moments in the glare of the paparazzi’s flash bulbs.
One of his five wives was actor Mia Farrow, who had been married to Frank Sinatra when she met the musician.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the death this morning of our Conductor Emeritus Andre Previn,” said the London Symphony Orchestra, where Previn once served as principal conductor.
The Recording Academy, which puts on the Grammy awards gala, praised Previn’s “ability to effortlessly combine genres.”
During his illustrious career in Hollywood, Previn won Academy Awards for film composing, including for Porgy and Bess (1960) and My Fair Lady (1964).
But he left the MGM studio in the 1960s to focus on classical music.
Previn served as music director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as the Houston and Pittsburgh Symphonies, and frequently guest conducted worldwide.
