Turnovský, Martin
Turnovský, Martin
Turnovský, Martin, Czech conductor; b. Prague, Sept. 29, 1928. He studied at the Prague Academy of Music (1948-52), his principal mentors being Robert Brock (piano) and Anc˘erl (conducting); later he pursued private instruction in conducting with Szell (1956). In 1952 he made his debut as a conductor with the Prague Sym. Orch. From 1955 to 1960 he conducted the Czech Army Sym. Orch. In 1958 he captured 1stprize in the Besançon competition. He was music director of the Brno State Phil. (1959-63) and the Plzeñ Radio Sym. Orch. (1963-66). In 1966 he became Generalmusikdirektor of the Dresden State Opera and Orch. However, he resigned his position in 1968 when East German troops participated in the Soviet invasion of his homeland. After making his U.S. debut as a guest conductor with the Cleveland Orch. in 1968, Turnovsky appeared as a conductor with various orchs. and opera houses. From 1975 to 1980 he was music director of the Norwegian Opera in Oslo. He was music director of the Bonn City Theater from 1979 to 1983. During this time, he also served as co-chief conductor (with Jan Krenz) of the Beethovenhalle Orch. in Bonn. In 1992 he became music director of the Prague Sym. Orch.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire