Haitink Bernard, *4 March 1929 Amsterdam, †21 October 2021 London, Dutch conductor. He studied violin and conducting at the conservatory in Amsterdam (with F. Hupka). In 1954–55 he took part in international conducting courses organized by the Dutch radio foundation Nederlandse Omroep Stichting under the direction of F. Leitner. The high regard for his talent led to his immediate appointment as second conductor, and two years later as chief conductor, of the radio orchestra in Hilversum. In 1956 he made his first appearance with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, beginning a long and lasting association with the ensemble. In 1961 he also became artistic director of the Concertgebouworkest in Amsterdam, initially sharing the position with E. Jochum; from 1964 to 1986 he held the post alone. In 1958 he made his United States debut with the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra. In 1964 he began a permanent collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra, first as guest conductor, then as principal conductor (from 1967) and artistic director (1970–79). He appeared as a guest conductor while dividing his time between London and Amsterdam, conducting among others the Hallé Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. With his orchestras he undertook major tours to America, the USSR, and the Far East, and also appeared at leading festivals including those in Osaka, Vienna, Edinburgh, and West Berlin. He was an honorary member and recipient of the gold medal of the Internationale G. Mahler-Gesellschaft (1970), and also received the gold medal of the Bruckner Society (1970). He made numerous recordings for Philips, including complete symphony cycles of Mahler and Bruckner (with the Concertgebouw Orchestra), and the symphonic poems of Liszt (with the London Symphony Orchestra). Haitink also appeared as an opera conductor, chiefly at the Glyndebourne Festival, where he conducted The Abduction from the Seraglio and The Magic Flute by Mozart in 1972–73, and The Rake’s Progress by Igor Stravinsky in 1975. From 1977 he served as the festival’s music director. In the same year he conducted performances of Mozart’s Don Giovanni at Covent Graden, where he assumed leadership in 1986/87. He was a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Literature: M. Flothius Bernard Haitink and Eugen Jochum, the New Conductors of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, “Sonorum Speculum” 1960 no. 4; A. Blyth Bernard Haitink Talks, “Gramophone” XLV, 1968, LI, 1974; R. Crichton From Strength to Strength, “Records and Recording” XV, 1972 (includes discography).
