Former LPO conductor suffers stage fall in Paris

The former principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra is recovering in hospital after falling off the stage at a concert in Paris.

Kurt Masur, who is 84, lost his balance while conducting the National Orchestra of France on Thursday night.

According to the orchestra's website, he is expected to be released soon.

France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has sent his best wishes to the German-born conductor, calling him a "legendary musician".

Masur served as the principal conductor of the London Philharmonic between 2000 and 2007, after which he became honorary musical director at the Paris-based orchestra.

He celebrated his 80th birthday at the Proms in 2007 by leading both orchestras in Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings and Bruckner's Seventh Symphony.

Prior to Thursday's accident, he has been conducting Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony and Shostakovich's Symphony No 1.

A spokeswoman said he fell backwards some 1.5 metres into the front row of the audience at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees.

He was not found to have suffered any serious injuries.

"After a reassuring in-depth examination, (Masur) is resting in hospital. He took a few steps this morning and is expected to leave hospital soon," the orchestra said in a statement.

Born in 1927 in what was then the German province of Silesia (now Brzeg, Poland), Masur studied piano and cello before becoming a conductor.

He served as conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra from 1955 - 1958 and again from 1967 - 1972.

In 1970, he was appointed music director of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, a position he held for 26 years before being named the orchestra's first conductor laureate.

While there, he played a central role in the peaceful protests in Leipzig that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and to German reunification, and attracted worldwide attention for the impact of his leadership.

He later moved to New York, where he became the music director of the Philharmonic in 1991.

In 1995, he was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and in 1997 was named Commander of the Legion of Honour in France, a rank which was later upgraded to Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour in 2007.

In his statement, President Sarkozy praised Masur for his "historic role" in reconciling East and West Germany.

Source & Image : BBC