Sir Charles Mackerras

Australian conductor, born 17 November 1925 in Schenectady, New York, USA, died 14 July 2010 in London, England. He was long associated with the English and Welsh National Operas, and was the first Australian chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and a renowned Czech classical music specialist. He was knighted in 1979.