Home » Jazz Musicians » Andre Previn

Andre Previn

André Previn started playing jazz as a teenager, having studied classical piano for many of his formative years. In the early 1950s, he was blown away by the bebop of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. By 1954, he was performing with some of those bebop masters. In 1956, Previn made his own jazz history. Along with drummer Shelley Manne and bass player Leroy Vinegar, he recorded the first jazz version of a Broadway score for “My Fair Lady.” It was the first jazz album to sell one million copies.

Conductor, composer, and pianist André Previn has received a number of awards and honors for his outstanding musical accomplishments. He holds both the Austrian and German Cross of Merit, was honored by the Kennedy Center for his lifetime achievements, and was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1996. He was presented the Glenn Gould Prize in Toronto on March 14, 2006. He has received several Grammy awards for his recordings. Most recently he was honored at 47th Grammy Awards in February 2005 for the recordings of his violin concerto "Anne-Sophie" and Bernstein’s Serenade featuring Anne-Sophie Mutter together with the Boston and London Symphony Orchestras. Musical America named him Musician of The Year, and his first opera A Streetcar Named Desire was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque.

A frequent guest with the world’s major orchestras - both in concert and on recordings - André Previn appears annually with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and Vienna Philharmonic, to name a few. André Previn has held the chief artistic posts with such orchestras as the Houston Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Royal Philharmonic.

n his third season as musical director of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra Sir André Previn appeared on several occasions in Oslo in September 2005. On the program were Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9 featuring Emmanuel Ax as pianist as well as Britten’s Spring Symphony featuring Susannah Glanville, Randi Stene and Anthony Dean Griffey as soloists. In October 2006 Maestro Previn will appear in Oslo conducting Orff’s »Carmina Burana«, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 and Beethoven’s »Pastoral« Symphony No. 6. He will also direct the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in this season. In 1998 Sir André Previn conducted the premiere performance of his opera »A Streetcar Named Desire« with the San Francisco Opera with Renée Fleming as Blanche Dubois. The opera, featuring a libretto by Philip Littell, is based on the play by Tennessee Williams. It was subsequently broadcast on television and recorded for Deutsche Grammophon. In June 2003 André Previn again performed the work together with the London Symphony Orchestra and original cast. In May of 2004 he began another series of performances with the Washington Opera.

As a pianist, André Previn often performs together with Anne-Sophie Mutter and Lynn Harrell. As a jazz pianist he also performs with David Finck. Sir André Previn has performed recitals with Renée Fleming at Lincoln Center and with Barbara Bonney at Carnegie Hall and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and regularly gives chamber music concerts with the Emerson String Quartet, as well as with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and the Vienna Philharmonic.

Sir André Previn has enjoyed a number of successes as a composer. The Emerson String Quartet recently performed the premiere of a commission work in Carnegie Hall with Barbara Bonney. This work and the opera »A Streetcar Named Desire« followed the latest compositions as did a work for violin and piano (»Tango Song und Dance«) and a violin concerto commissioned by Boston Symphony Orchestra. Both works were written for Anne-Sophie Mutter, who has performed and recorded them. During the 1999/2000 season the Vienna Philharmonic performed the premier of the contracted work »Diversions« and subsequently recorded it.

Other compositions include a piano concerto for Vladimir Ashkenazy, a cello sonata for Yo-Yo Ma and songcycles for Janet Baker, Kathleen Battle, Barbara Bonney and Anthony Dean Griffey. Sir André Previn is currently working on new song cycles for Barbara Bonney and Renée Fleming, a clarinet sonata for the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Thomas Martin, and his second opera. Another highlight among his compositions is the double concerto for violin and contrabass, which Sir André Previn wrote for Anne-Sophie Mutter and Roman Patkolo (contrabass). The premier performance of the work is scheduled for April 2007 in Boston where it will be performed by Anne-Sophie Mutter and Roman Patkolo with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

After decades spent conducting symphony orchestras and composing classical music, Previn returned to jazz in 2007, and recorded a solo album - his first in 10 years. Previn's latest performance is on the new solo jazz piano CD, “Alone.” (Decca) Show less

Shelly Manne & His Friends: Modern Jazz Performances Of Songs From My Fair Lady

Read "Modern Jazz Performances Of Songs From My Fair Lady" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
September 20, 2023

The musical My Fair Lady (1956) is a story from another age. All things considered, it is probably best that a contemporary audience may not know the lyrics to the songs, let alone the tunes. The tale involves the efforts of an insufferable Henry Higgins to teach a Cockney lass, Eliza Doolittle, how to properly pronounce the Queen's English, BBC style. Alas, Higgins succeeds too well, only to render the fey Doolittle attractive to a rival suitor of some means. ...

Album Review

Andre Previn and his pals Shelly Manne & Red Mitchell: West Side Story

Read "West Side Story" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
July 9, 2023

André Previn was always something of a mystery to jazz critics and listeners. By common consent, he had astonishing instrumental technique. On the other hand, a lot of listeners were sure they could hear everyone but Previn in his playing. Along with Shelly Manne, he sold a lot of records and probably made a good deal of money doing so. That alone would have been a problem for some--commercial success and jazz are not supposed to be compatible--but then Previn ...

Radio & Podcasts

Groundhog Day

by H William Stine
March 31, 2019

Explain to me again why we created a holiday to honor an ugly, destructive rodent and a misguided superstition while continuing to discredit the value of scientific facts in our lives? I based my Groundhog Day celebration on the classic movie and this rule: if you hear a song once this week, you're going to hear it at least twice. (Okay, I did start the show with one Groundhog Day song.) Playlist Cody Owen Stine “Paris Mismatch" ...

Radio & Podcasts

Wild Women Don't Get the Blues - Happy birthday to Ida Cox

by Mary Foster Conklin
March 30, 2019

This broadcast on the first Sunday of Women's History Month included new releases from Jenna Mammina, Lioness and Claudia Acuna with birthday shout outs to Ida Cox, baritone saxophonist Claire Daly, vocalists Roseanna Vitro, Sara Gazarek, Sara Serpa, and pianist Kirk Nurock among others, plus a sampling of who's playing around town and tributes to Andre Previn. Playlist Tardo Hammer “Little Man, You've Had a Busy Day" from Tardo's Tempo (Sharp Nine) 00:00 Jenna & the Charmers “Free ...

224

Extended Analysis

Andre Previn: Four Classic Albums

by David Rickert
November 23, 2011

Andre PrevinFour Classic AlbumsAvid Group 2011 Andre Previn may not be as well known as fellow West Coast pianists Vince Guaraldi and Dave Brubeck, but he nevertheless created a respectable body of work, mostly as a trio with drummer Shelly Manne, with whom he created a series of recordings where they swapped the leader role back and forth. This compilation collects four of Previn's sessions from the West Coast heyday of ...

199

Album Review

Andre Previn/David Finck: We Got It Good and That Ain't Bad

Read "We Got It Good and That Ain't Bad" reviewed by Dave Nathan

by Dave Nathan
September 1, 2000

Andre Previn - or more accurately, Sir Andre, given the knighthood bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth in 1996 - is one of the very few pianists who moves back and forth between jazz and classical music with ease. Others of note are Keith Jarrett and, to a lesser extent, Mel Powell. There has been considerable debate whether a classical musician can successfully make this transition given the restraints on improvisation in the classical genre. It depends, I suppose, on ...

170

Album Review

Andr: We Got It Good And That Ain

Read "We Got It Good And That Ain" reviewed by Jim Santella

by Jim Santella
August 1, 2000

André Previn’s piano brings us theme and variations on songs associated with composer Duke Ellington. Bassist David Finck provides subtle accompaniment and lyrical interludes.

The pieces themselves are like old friends. And here they’re treated with respect. So sit down, my friends, and tell me how you’ve been lately.

The titles from Ellington’s blues-based songs represent lyrics by themselves. The ideas live through those melodies. “I got it bad." “Do nothin’ till you hear from me." “It don’t mean a ...

Obituary

André Previn (1929-2019)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
March 1, 2019

André Previn, a piano prodigy who began his career at MGM while still in high school in the mid-1940s and excelled at jazz, classical and easy listening in the 1950s and beyond, died on February 28. He was 89. Previn escaped Nazi Germany with his family in 1938 when he was still a child. The family emigrated to Los Angeles, where they had relatives. Previn grew up in the Hollywood film studios thanks in part to his great uncle, Charles ...
read more

Obituary

Departures: Andre Previn And Ira Gitler

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
March 1, 2019

This week, music lost two venerable and influential figures. Andre Previn, who distinguished himself as a performer and composer in a wide range of styles and genres, died on Thursday at his home in New York City. He was 89. A gifted pianist whose work as a film composer and orchestrator began before he left high school, Previn won four Academy Awards for his film scores. He performed orchestral works and wrote many pieces played by renowned musicians including the ...
read more

Recording

Andre Previn: Early Jazz Years

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
November 27, 2012

Today, Andre Previn is viewed by many jazz fans as a jazz pretender—a dyed-in-the wool classical pianist and conductor and a prolific film composer who can manage jazz impersonation but shouldn't really be considered among jazz's piano greats. All of which is complete nonsense if you are aware of Previn's early jazz recordings. If you aren't, it's not your fault. Most of his pre-1956 leadership sessions for RCA languish in vaults someplace, so all you may know are his West ...
read more

187

Event

Salute to an Andre Previn Artist of Many Talents

Source: Michael Ricci
April 24, 2009

Some composers write music for anonymous performers, while others, like Andr Previn, prefer to tailor works to a particular muse.

Mr. Previn, who has written pieces for musicians like the pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy and the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, has also been inspired by the violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, who was one of the commissioners of his Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello.

That work received its premiere at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, performed by Mr. Previn, Ms. Mutter (to whom he ...
read more

418

Performance / Tour

Retirement at Age 80? Andre Previn Still Hard at Work

Source: Michael Ricci
April 9, 2009

Andr Previn has had a particularly wide-ranging career, as conductor, pianist, composer, arranger and jazz performer. In honor of his 80th birthday on Monday, Carnegie Hall is presenting three events that showcase him in his various musical guises.

On Tuesday Mr. Previn, who has held major artistic posts with ensembles like the London Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Pittsburgh Symphony, conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra in Mozarts Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, leading from the piano, and ...
read more

203

Performance / Tour

Just Jazz: Saluting Andre Previn at 80 at Zankel Hall on February 19th

Source: Carolyn McClair Public Relations
February 5, 2009

Just Jazz: The Joyce Wein Series Presents Saluting Andr Previn at 80 with Andre Previn and David Finck At Zankel Hall February 19 ~ 8:30 PM NEW YORK - SALUTING ANDR PREVIN AT 80, a duo performance with Previn on piano and David Finck on bass, will take place at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, 57th Street & Seventh Avenue, on Thursday, February 19, at 8:30 pm. The concert is presented ...
read more

331

Obituary

Andre Previn and Mia Farrow's Daughter Lark Dies at 35

Source: Michael Ricci
December 30, 2008

Lark Previn, a daughter of actress Mia Farrow whose sister Soon-Yi Previn was at the center of Farrow's messy breakup with Woody Allen, has died. She was 35.

The medical examiner's office says Lark Previn died Christmas Day at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn. No cause of death was given. A cremation was held today at Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery.

Lark Previn was born in Vietnam in 1973. She was one of three children adopted by Farrow and her ...
read more

178

Event

Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola - Hank Jones Replaces Andre Previn on May 15

Source: All About Jazz
May 9, 2007

Hank Jones Replaces Sir Andre Previn at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola May 15, 7:30pm New York, NY (May 9, 2007) Jazz at Lincoln Center announced that Hank Jones will replace Sir Andre Previn for his set at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, scheduled for Tuesday, May 15 at 7:30pm, due to scheduling conflicts. The 9:30pm set that evening will go on as planned featuring Bucky Pizzarelli and Jay Leonhart. LISTING INFORMATION Venue: Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola Event: May 15, 2007 ...
read more

114

Performance / Tour