Mario Bernardi, CC FRSC (20 August 1930 – 2 June 2013) was a Canadian conductor and pianist.[1] He conducted 75 different operas and over 450 other works with the National Arts Centre Orchestra.[1]
Mario Bernardi | |
|---|---|
 Mario Bernardi (left), and Bramwell Tovey (right) in 2005 | |
| Born | 20 August 1930 |
| Died | 2 June 2013 (aged 82) |
| Resting place | Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto |
| Occupation(s) | conductor, pianist |
| Awards | Order of Canada |
Biography
editBernardi was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario,[1] and spent his first six years in Canada. After his family moved to Italy,[1] Bernardi studied piano, organ, and composition with Bruno Pasut at the Manzato Conservatory at Treviso and took his examinations at Italy's Venice Conservatory.[1]
After graduating in 1945, his family returned to Canada where he finished his studies at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.[1] He then was a concert pianist.
In 1957 he conducted the Canadian Opera Company,[1] and in 1963 was an assistant conductor and later a music director and conductor of the Mozart opera presentations at the Sadler's Wells Opera Company (now the English National Opera) from 1966 to 1968.[1]
In 1968 he became the founding conductor of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa,[1] and also became the music director in 1971.[1] He then led the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra from 1984 until 1992.[1] From 1983 until 2006 he was the principal conductor of the CBC Radio Orchestra.[1] He then retired from full-time work, although he continued to perform with numerous orchestras as an occasional guest conductor;[1] he was named NACO's conductor laureate in 1997.[1]
He has made several dozen recordings for CBC Records, the CBC's in-house label, among others.[1]
He died on 2 June 2013 in Toronto.[2]
Personal life
editBernardi worked until age 80, when he had a serious stroke and moved to a care home. He continued to play piano until he lost sufficient finger dexterity.[3]
Bernardi was married, with one daughter and two grandsons.[3]
Honours
edit- He has honorary degrees from the University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of Windsor, University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Lakehead University and Laurentian University.[1]
- 1972: He was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.[4]
- 1982: Received the Diplôme d'Honneur from the Canadian Conference of the Arts
- 1999: Bernardi received the National Arts Centre Award, a companion award of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.[5]
- 2001: He received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.[6]
- 2006: He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Mario Bernardi at The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- ^ "NAC Orchestra founding conductor Mario Bernardi dies". CBC News, 3 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Mario Bernardi: A brilliant and demanding maestro who conducted Canada to musical maturity".
- ^ Office of the Governor General of Canada. Order of Canada citation. Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 24 May 2010
- ^ "Mario Bernardi biography (1999)". Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Mario Bernardi biography (2001)". Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "2006 New Fellow Citations" (PDF). Royal Society of Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011.
Further reading
edit- Interview with Mario Bernardi, 5 June 1995