Charles Mackerras

Sir Charles Mackerras is one of the greatest conductors of the last half century and a recognised authority on Czech Music and Mozart's Operas.

Mackerras grew up in Sydney, Australia where he studied Oboe, Piano and composition. Mackerras moved to England where, in 1947, he won a Scholarship to study with Vaclav Talich in Prague. Upon returning to England, Mackerras began his long association with Sadler's Wells Opera (now English National Opera) where he drew much praise for his performances of Janacek, Gilbert & Sullivan and Mozart. He was also at the forefront of informed 'period performance'. Mackerras won much acclaim as conductor at the Welsh National Opera (1977-92) but has worked with many other orchestras and opera companies.
Mackerras has made many recordings with EMI, and is noted for his definitive accounts of the Janacek operas for Decca. In recent years he has recorded the Mozart symphonies and Gilbert and Sullivan operettas for the Telarc label.