BIOGRAPHY
1896
Born in Athens to a non-musical family 1910 First piano lessons at the Athens Conservatory 1913 Appeared in a concert with his teacher, showing his qualities both as composer and as pianist
1915
On the podium for the first time
1919
Diploma and Gold Medal in Piano from the Athens Conservatory
1920
Went to study in Brussels on a scholarship
1921
Settled in Berlin, spent most of his day improvising on a church organ, met Ferruccio Busoni, well-known composer and music teacher.
1924
Back in Athens accepted the post of assistant conductor of the Orchestra of the Hellenic Conservatory
1936
As a guest conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, he defied all odds and gave a performance of Prokofiev's 3rd Piano Concerto playing the solo part as well as conducting the orchestra. This was his great opportunity, and he soon signed the contract as principal conductor of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (1938-49).
1944
Artistic director and principal conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra
1949
Mitropoulos was asked to take up the post of associate conductor of the New York Philharmonic with Leopold Stokowski. The following year Stokowski withdrew and Mitropoulos became the sole and permanent conductor of the orchestra.
1951
Also took the position of artistic director up until 1957 when Leonard Bernstein took up the post.
1958
Visited Athens with the Vienna Philharmonic. During these years he conducted other great European orchestras such as: the Berlin Philharmonic, the Bavarian Radio Symphony, the Royal Concertgebouw of Amsterdam etc. and conducted at the Salzburg Festival, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino etc.
1959
Mitropoulos suffered his second heart attack. Was advised to give up conducting if he wanted to live. That would have been worse than death, so he continued conducting with the same verve and passion.
1960, 2 November
Last and fatal heart attack on La Scala's podium in Milan. According to his wishes his body was cremated in Switzerland and his ashes returned to Athens where they lay in state at the Theatre of Herod Atticus for two days.
