Previn, Sir André

Previn, Sir André (prĕv`ĭn), 1929–, American conductor, composer, and pianist, b. Germany, as Andreas Ludwig Priwin. He has recorded classical music since 1946. In the 1950s he made a number of highly successful jazz piano albums, and he began recording jazz again in the 1990s. He has also composed film scores (which he wrote about in Minor Chords: My Early Days in Hollywood, 1991), songs, an opera, and chamber music. Previn conducted the Houston Symphony (1967–69) and the London Symphony (1968–79) and served as musical director of the Pittsburgh Symphony (1976–1984) and the Los Angeles Philharmonic (1986–89), where he remained as conductor until 1992. Conductor laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra since 1992, he continues to compose and to be a frequent piano soloist and chamber player. He is artistic adviser (1991–) to the Caramoor Festival in Katonah, N.Y., conducts and teaches at the Berkshire Festival, and is a regular guest conductor at the New York Philharmonic. Previn was knighted in 1996 and two years later was awarded a presidential medal.