André Previn celebrated a career in classical music that few will ever achieve, to say the least. The world lost this Hollywood music arranger, composer and world-renowned conductor earlier this year, and he won't soon be forgotten — especially after a recent mix-up at the Emmy Awards.
During Sunday night's broadcast on Fox, time was set aside, as usual, to celebrate the lives and careers of those who died over the past year. But I was shocked to see Leonard Slatkin's photo come across the screen.
Having spent two seasons with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, I am quite familiar with Maestro Slatkin's presence on the podium, and I did a double take when I saw him included in the "In Memoriam" tribute. It turns out that the producers mistook a photo of Slatkin for a photo of Previn.
I immediately went to the internet to confirm that my former colleague was, in fact, still alive. Based on reactions on Twitter and elsewhere online, I wasn't the only one who was caught off guard by the error.
While this can be considered a simple mistake, it proves at least one thing: Classical music lovers will always be there to defend and honor the legacies of those living and those gone.
Here's to the life and legacy of Previn, and to many more healthy years on the podium for Maestro Slatkin.
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