Emerson Buckley
Encyclopedia
Emerson Buckley(1) An American Orchestral conductor born in New York City
. Buckley graduated from Columbia University
in 1934 and made his conducting debut that same year at age 20. His career brought him notoriety throughout the world of opera and concerts.
by first conducting the Opera Guild, Inc.
from 1950 to 1982, and the Fort Lauderdale Symphony Orchestra
from 1963 to 1986, both in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
. From March 1950 to January 1952 he conducted the music of Elliot Jacoby for the American
old-time radio
series 2000 Plus
.
and the Lyric Opera of Chicago
. In 1958 he conducted the world premier of Douglas Moore's Ballad of Baby Doe with the New York City Opera Company.
. He conducted many of his concerts throughout the world, on television for PBS, and appeared as himself in Mr. Pavarotti's only movie, Yes! Georgio.
, CBS
, Decca
, and Deutsche Grammophon
among others. Mr. Buckley was the recipient of Grammy awards
for his participation in the many recorded albums of classical and opera productions.
Buckley married the Canadian-born soprano Margaret Henderson. Two sons have gone onto careers of their own. Richard is a musical director who was based in Ontario, Canada in the 1990s and is now the musical director of the Austin Lyric Opera
. Brother Robert is a theatrical producer and general manager in New York City.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Buckley graduated from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1934 and made his conducting debut that same year at age 20. His career brought him notoriety throughout the world of opera and concerts.
Biography
Buckley established his musical base in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
by first conducting the Opera Guild, Inc.
Florida Grand Opera
Florida Grand Opera is an American opera company based in Miami, Florida. FGO was created in 1994 from the consolidation of two opera companies in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale region:...
from 1950 to 1982, and the Fort Lauderdale Symphony Orchestra
Fort Lauderdale Symphony Orchestra
The Fort Lauderdale Symphony Orchestra was a Fort Lauderdale, Florida based symphony orchestra founded in 1949 by high school band director John Canfield. The orchestra developed from an amateur group to a semi-professional orchestra with Emerson Buckley at the helm in 1963...
from 1963 to 1986, both in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
. From March 1950 to January 1952 he conducted the music of Elliot Jacoby for the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
old-time radio
Old-time radio
Old-Time Radio and the Golden Age of Radio refer to a period of radio programming in the United States lasting from the proliferation of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s until television's replacement of radio as the primary home entertainment medium in the 1950s...
series 2000 Plus
2000 Plus
----2000 Plus was an American old-time radio series that ran on the Mutual Broadcasting System from March 15, 1950 to January 2, 1952 in various 30-minute time slots...
.
Establishing his reputation
Buckley was guest conductor with opera companies around the world, notably the New York City OperaNew York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
and the Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
. In 1958 he conducted the world premier of Douglas Moore's Ballad of Baby Doe with the New York City Opera Company.
Recognition
While never an unknown, notoriety came late in life with the ongoing relationship with the late Italian tenor Luciano PavarottiLuciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
. He conducted many of his concerts throughout the world, on television for PBS, and appeared as himself in Mr. Pavarotti's only movie, Yes! Georgio.
Legacy
He recorded for SonySony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
, CBS
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
, Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, and Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label which was the foundation of the future corporation to be known as PolyGram. It is now part of Universal Music Group since its acquisition and absorption of PolyGram in 1999, and it is also UMG's oldest active label...
among others. Mr. Buckley was the recipient of Grammy awards
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for his participation in the many recorded albums of classical and opera productions.
Buckley married the Canadian-born soprano Margaret Henderson. Two sons have gone onto careers of their own. Richard is a musical director who was based in Ontario, Canada in the 1990s and is now the musical director of the Austin Lyric Opera
Austin Lyric Opera
Austin Lyric Opera, founded in 1986, is an internationally known opera company based in Austin, Texas.It also operates the Armstrong Community Music School....
. Brother Robert is a theatrical producer and general manager in New York City.