Andre Previn
André Previn was born to a Jewish family in Berlin, Germany. His brother wa… Read Full Bio ↴André Previn was born to a Jewish family in Berlin, Germany. His brother was the director Steve Previn (1925-1993). With his family, he emigrated to the United States in 1939 to escape the Nazi Regime in Germany. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1943, and grew up in Los Angeles. At his Summer 1946 graduation from Beverly Hills High School Previn played a musical duet with Richard M. Sherman: Previn played the piano, accompanying Sherman (who played flute). Coincidentally, twenty one years later, both composers won Oscars for different films, both winning in musical categories.
In 1967, Previn became music director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. In 1968, Previn began his tenure as principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), serving in that post until 1979. During his LSO tenure, he and the LSO appeared on television in the programme André Previn's Music Night. From 1976-1984, Previn was music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO), and in turn had another television series with the PSO titled Previn and the Pittsburgh. He was also principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1984, he was named music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, officially taking over the position in 1985. While Previn's tenure with the orchestra was musically satisfactory, other conductors including Kurt Sanderling, Simon Rattle, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, did a better job at the box office. Previn clashed frequently with Ernest Fleischmann (the orchestra's Executive VP and General Manager), most notably when Fleischmann had failed to consult him before deciding to name Salonen as Principal Guest Conductor of the orchestra, complete with a tour of Japan. Because of Previn's objections, Salonen's title and Japanese tour were withdrawn; however, shortly thereafter in April 1989, Previn resigned as Music Director.[2] Four months later, Salonen was named Music Director Designate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, officially taking the post of Music Director in October 1992.
Previn's many recordings include the three complete ballets of Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, and the complete symphonies of Ralph Vaughan Williams, all with the LSO. With the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he made other recordings of music by Sergei Prokofiev (most notably, the Symphonies 1 and 5, the score to Alexander Nevsky, and the Symphony-Concerto for Cello & Orchestra with Heinrich Schiff as soloist), symphonies and other pieces by Antonín Dvořák, and works by contemporary composers including William Kraft, John Harbison, and Harold Shapero.
Previn has composed film scores and other musical works including a cello concerto and a guitar concerto. He has also adapted and conducted the music for several films—some of them stage-to-film adaptations, such as My Fair Lady, Kismet, Porgy and Bess, and Paint Your Wagon, but several were written especially for film, including the Academy Award-winning Gigi. Several of the film scores were collaborations with his second wife, Dory Previn.
In the mid-to-late 1950s, and more recently, he toured and recorded as a jazz pianist. In the 1950s, mainly recording for Contemporary Records, he worked with Shelly Manne, Leroy Vinnegar, Benny Carter, and others. An album he recorded with Manne and Vinnegar of songs from My Fair Lady was a best-seller (see My Fair Lady (album)). Andre Previn made two albums with Dinah Shore as arranger, conductor, and accompanist in 1960 and made several appearances on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show in the early 1960s. He collaborated with Julie Andrews on a collection of Christmas carols in 1966, focusing on rarely heard carols. This popular album has been reissued many times over the years, and is now available on CD.
In later years, he has concentrated on composing classical music. He collaborated with Tom Stoppard on Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, a play with substantial musical content, which was first performed in London in 1977 with Previn conducting the LSO. His first opera, A Streetcar Named Desire, premiered at the San Francisco Opera in 1998. His numerous other classical works include vocal, chamber, and orchestral music. Occasionally he has made recordings of jazz music on the Telarc label.
In the United Kingdom, where he was knighted in 1996, Previn first became well-known as a result of his television appearances with the LSO. He is now particularly remembered for his performance as "Mr Andrew Preview" (or "Privet") on the Morecambe and Wise comedy show in 1971, which involved his conducting a spoof performance of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto, with Eric Morecambe as soloist. Because of other commitments, the only time available for Previn to learn his part was during a transatlantic flight, but the talent he showed for comedy won high praise from his co-performers. At a concert in Britain afterwards, Previn had to stop the playing of the concerto to allow the audience time to stop giggling as they remembered the sketch. It is still voted one of the funniest comedy moments of all time.
In 1967, Previn became music director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. In 1968, Previn began his tenure as principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), serving in that post until 1979. During his LSO tenure, he and the LSO appeared on television in the programme André Previn's Music Night. From 1976-1984, Previn was music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO), and in turn had another television series with the PSO titled Previn and the Pittsburgh. He was also principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1984, he was named music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, officially taking over the position in 1985. While Previn's tenure with the orchestra was musically satisfactory, other conductors including Kurt Sanderling, Simon Rattle, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, did a better job at the box office. Previn clashed frequently with Ernest Fleischmann (the orchestra's Executive VP and General Manager), most notably when Fleischmann had failed to consult him before deciding to name Salonen as Principal Guest Conductor of the orchestra, complete with a tour of Japan. Because of Previn's objections, Salonen's title and Japanese tour were withdrawn; however, shortly thereafter in April 1989, Previn resigned as Music Director.[2] Four months later, Salonen was named Music Director Designate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, officially taking the post of Music Director in October 1992.
Previn's many recordings include the three complete ballets of Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, and the complete symphonies of Ralph Vaughan Williams, all with the LSO. With the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he made other recordings of music by Sergei Prokofiev (most notably, the Symphonies 1 and 5, the score to Alexander Nevsky, and the Symphony-Concerto for Cello & Orchestra with Heinrich Schiff as soloist), symphonies and other pieces by Antonín Dvořák, and works by contemporary composers including William Kraft, John Harbison, and Harold Shapero.
Previn has composed film scores and other musical works including a cello concerto and a guitar concerto. He has also adapted and conducted the music for several films—some of them stage-to-film adaptations, such as My Fair Lady, Kismet, Porgy and Bess, and Paint Your Wagon, but several were written especially for film, including the Academy Award-winning Gigi. Several of the film scores were collaborations with his second wife, Dory Previn.
In the mid-to-late 1950s, and more recently, he toured and recorded as a jazz pianist. In the 1950s, mainly recording for Contemporary Records, he worked with Shelly Manne, Leroy Vinnegar, Benny Carter, and others. An album he recorded with Manne and Vinnegar of songs from My Fair Lady was a best-seller (see My Fair Lady (album)). Andre Previn made two albums with Dinah Shore as arranger, conductor, and accompanist in 1960 and made several appearances on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show in the early 1960s. He collaborated with Julie Andrews on a collection of Christmas carols in 1966, focusing on rarely heard carols. This popular album has been reissued many times over the years, and is now available on CD.
In later years, he has concentrated on composing classical music. He collaborated with Tom Stoppard on Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, a play with substantial musical content, which was first performed in London in 1977 with Previn conducting the LSO. His first opera, A Streetcar Named Desire, premiered at the San Francisco Opera in 1998. His numerous other classical works include vocal, chamber, and orchestral music. Occasionally he has made recordings of jazz music on the Telarc label.
In the United Kingdom, where he was knighted in 1996, Previn first became well-known as a result of his television appearances with the LSO. He is now particularly remembered for his performance as "Mr Andrew Preview" (or "Privet") on the Morecambe and Wise comedy show in 1971, which involved his conducting a spoof performance of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto, with Eric Morecambe as soloist. Because of other commitments, the only time available for Previn to learn his part was during a transatlantic flight, but the talent he showed for comedy won high praise from his co-performers. At a concert in Britain afterwards, Previn had to stop the playing of the concerto to allow the audience time to stop giggling as they remembered the sketch. It is still voted one of the funniest comedy moments of all time.
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06Overture (Jesus Christ Superstar/Soundtrack) - From "Jesus Christ Superstar" SoundtrackAndré PrevinAndré Previn
16Overture (Jesus Christ Superstar/Soundtrack) - Jesus Christ Superstar/Soundtrack VersionAndré PrevinAndré Previn
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André Previn Lyrics
A Foggy Day I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
Ain't Misbehavin No one to talk with All by myself No one to walk…
Ain't Misbehavin' No one to talk with All by myself No one to walk…
Almost Like Being In Love What a day this has been! What a rare mood I'm…
An American in Paris April in Paris Chestnuts in blossoms Holiday tables Under th…
Ascot Gavotte Ladies and Gentlemen Ev'ry duke and earl and peer is…
Batter Up Welcome ladies and gentlemen This is Mark, oh-Who-gives-a-fu…
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you You've…
Bewitched She's a fool and don't I know it But a fool…
Black & Blue Cold empty bed, springs hard as lead Pains in my head,…
Black an d Blue Cold empty bed, springs hard as lead Pains in my head,…
Blue Skies Blue skies smiling at me Nothing but blue skies do I…
Body and Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
Bye Bye Blackbird No one here can love or understand me Oh, what hard…
Cabin in the Sky In my solitude You haunt me With dreadful ease Of days go…
Come Sunday Ooh Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty, God of love, pleas…
Daydreaming Daydreaming, just daydreaming Well, it's kind of fun for on…
Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't …
Don Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Don't Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Don't Worry 'Bout Me Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just …
Embraceable You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irrepl…
Everything I've Got I've got you under my skin I've got you deep in…
Falling In Love Again Falling in love again Never wanted to What am I to do? Can't…
Fools Rush In "Romance is a game for fools" I used to say A game…
Gershwin: Oh Lady Be Good Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
Gershwin: Someone to Watch over Me There's a saying old says that love is blind Still were…
Get Happy Pack up your troubles and just get happy Ya better…
Good Enough to Keep The jam is jumpin' The drums are pumpin' The groove is locki…
Hallelujah I walked down these city streets Just a lonely man inspired …
Hallelujah! I walked down these city streets Just a lonely man inspired…
How Are Things In Glocca Morra I hear a bird, Londonderry bird, It well may be he's…
How High the Moon Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's…
I Can I've flown around the world in a plane I've settled revoluti…
I Could Write a Book If they ask me, I could write a book About the…
I Didn't Know What Time It Was/Ship Without a Sail I don't know what day it is, Or if it's dark…
I Found a New Baby I found a new baby I found a new girl My fashion…
I Got It Bad Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
I Know Why Why do robins sing in December Long before the Springtime is…
I Like Myself Only last Saturday, Or was it yesterday? I was rehearsing a …
I Love A Piano I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
I Need You I could show the world how to smile I could be…
I Only Have Eyes for You My love must be a kind of blind love I can't…
I Remember You This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
I'll Be Seeing You I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places That…
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
I'm In The Mood For Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
I've Got a Crush On You I've got you under my skin I've got you deep in…
If I Had You I could show the world how to smile I could be…
In Love In Vain It's only human for anyone to want to be in…
Isn'T This A Lovely Day The weather is frightening. The thunder and lightning Seem t…
It Don't Mean a Thing It don't mean a thing If it ain't got that swing (doo…
It Had To Be You Seems like dreams like I always had Could be, should be,…
It Happened in Sun Valley Howdy folks, let's go for a ride Get your favorite one…
It Might as Well Be Spring I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm, I'm…
Jeepers I don't care what the weatherman says When the weatherman sa…
Last Night When We Were Young Last night when we were young Love was a star, a…
Laura You know the feeling of something half remembered Of someth…
Let's Fall in Love I fall in love too easily, I fall in love…
Like Love Lately, I find myself out gazing at stars, Hearing guitars…
Long Ago Long ago and far away I dreamed a dream one day And…
Looking for Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Lost in the Stars It was written in the stars What was written in the…
Love Is Here to Stay It's very clear, our love is here to stay Not for…
Love Is Just Around the Corner Beautiful miracle, pardon my lyrical rhapsody, But can't you…
Love Me Or Leave Me Love me or leave me and let me be lonely You…
Love Walked in Love walked right in and drove the shadows away Love walked…
Lullaby of Birdland Lullaby of Birdland, that's what I Always hear when you…
More Than You Know Whether you are here or yonder, Whether you are false…
My Funny Valentine Behold the way our fine feathered friend His virtue doth par…
My Melancholy Baby Come to me my melancholy baby, Cuddle up and don't…
My One & Only Love The very thought of you makes my heart sing Like an…
My Ship My ship has sails that are made of silk The decks…
Nice Work If You Can Get It The man who only lives for making money Lives a life…
Nobody Else But Me I want to be no one but me I am in…
O Little Town of Bethlehem Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee…
Oh Lady Be Good Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
Oh What A Beautiful Mornin' There's a bright golden haze on the meadow, There's a bright…
Over The Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
P.S. I Love You I knew the time had to come When I'd be held…
Porgy and Bess: It Ain't Necessarily So It ain't necessarily so It ain't necessarily so The t'ings d…
Remind Me Remind me not to find you so attractive Remind me that…
Rodgers: It Might As Well Be Spring I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm, I'm…
Rodgers: My Funny Valentine Behold the way our fine feathered friend His virtue doth par…
San Francisco It only takes a tiny corner of This great big…
Second Time Around Love is lovelier the second time around Just as wonderful wi…
Should I Should I reveal exactly how I feel? Should I confess I…
Should I? Should I reveal exactly how I feel? Should I confess I…
Skylark Skylark Have you anything to say to me? Won't you tell me…
Slippin' Around The Corner Beautiful miracle, pardon my lyrical rhapsody, But can't you…
Solitude In my solitude You haunt me With dreadful ease Of days gone …
Someone to Watch over Me There's a saying old says that love is blind Still were…
Something to Live For I have almost ev'ry thing a human could desire, Cars and…
Superstar Every time I look at you I don't understand Why you let…
Taking a Chance On Love Here I go again, I hear those trumpets blow again. All…
That Old Black Magic Old black magic has me in its spell Old black magic…
That Old Feeling I saw you last night and got that old feeling…
The Love I Long For I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
The Second Time Around Love is lovelier the second time around Just as wonderful wi…
The Song Is You I hear music when I look at you, A beautiful theme…
Then I'll Be Tiered of You You look at me and wonder, you look at me…
Time After Time Time after time, I tell myself that I'm So lucky to be…
What Child is This Alas, my love, you do me wrong, To cast me off…
What Is a Man I was a hum-drum person Leading a life apart When love flew…
When I Fall In Love I fall in love too easily, I fall in love…
Who Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching for …
Who Are We to Say Love may fill your heart with a strange delight Love may…
Who Cares Let it rain and thunder, Let a million firms go under. I…
Who's Sorry Now Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching for …
Who? Let it rain and thunder, Let a million firms go under. I…
You Do Something to Me Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't …
You Make Me Feel So Young You make me feel so young You make me feel as…
You Stepped Out of a Dream You stepped out of a dream You are too wonderful to…
You Took Advantage Of Me When a girl has the heart of a mother It must…
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To You'd be so nice to come home to You'd be so…
You're Gonna Hear From Me Move over sun and you, give me some sky I've got…
Youmans: More Than You Know Whether you are here or yonder, Whether you are false…
Younger Than Springtime Younger than springtime are you Softer than starlight are yo…