EDUARD VAN BEINUM WITH THE LA PHIL AT PHILHARMONIC AUDITORIUM

Van Beinum’s first appearance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic was as guest conductor at the Hollywood Bowl on July 19, 1955 in a concert featuring cellist Gregor Piatigorsky in a performance of Dvorak’s Cello concerto in B minor, Op. 104. In 1956, van Beinum became the sixth music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, while maintaining his principal conductorship with the Concertgebouw. During his brief tenure with the orchestra he earned the respect of orchestra players, audiences, local critics and press. On April 13, 1959, van Beinum was in Amsterdam rehearsing the Concertgebouw in Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor. After forty-five minutes of rehearsal, he notified the orchestra that he was feeling unwell and, needing a break, he asked his assistant to take charge. Before he was able to leave the stand, he fell from the podium and passed away. The LAPO Archives contains archival recordings of every local performance of his with the orchestra.