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Bernard Herrmann

1911 - 1975

American

Summary

By the time of his premature death in December 1975, Bernard Herrmann was a well-known figure on the London musical scene, both as a composer with a formidable list of major works to his name, and as a conductor, the role in which he first made his mark, and in which he gave the most tangible proof of his great interest in British music.He was born in 1911 in New York, and studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar of the Juilliard School. At New York University his teachers included Philip James and Percy Grainger whose enquiring and enterprising attitude made a great impression on the young student composer.In 1931 he founded the New Chamber Orchestra of New York, which he conducted until he was appointed staff conductor of the Columbia Broadcasting System three years later. He became conductor-in-chief of the CBS Symphony Orchestra in 1940, a post he held for fifteen years, and appeared regularly with many American orchestras. It was during this period that he attracted attention through the very large number of British compositions he introduced to the American public.His compositions of the 1930s and 1940s made a great impact and earned him something of a reputation for being the enfant terrible of American music. Although perhaps best known for his film scores, particularly through his association with Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Wells, he also wrote a number of important concert, operatic and chamber works. Wuthering Heights (1950), an opera in four acts, was first performed in 1982 in the States by Portland Opera, and the choral cantata for male voices Moby Dick (1938) received its premiere with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. A Portrait of Hitch (1968), a short orchestral piece dedicated to Alfred Hitchcock, is based on music written for the film The Trouble with Harry.Active to the end despite poor health, at the time of his death Herrmann was writing a new film score and making plans for several gramophone recordings.

Biography

By the time of his premature death in December 1975, Bernard Herrmann was a well-known figure on the London musical scene, both as a composer with a formidable list of major works to his name, and as a conductor, the role in which he first made his mark, and in which he gave the most tangible proof of his great interest in British music.He was born in 1911 in New York, and studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar of the Juilliard School. At New York University his teachers included Philip James and Percy Grainger whose enquiring and enterprising attitude made a great impression on the young student composer.In 1931 he founded the New Chamber Orchestra of New York, which he conducted until he was appointed staff conductor of the Columbia Broadcasting System three years later. He became conductor-in-chief of the CBS Symphony Orchestra in 1940, a post he held for fifteen years, and appeared regularly with many American orchestras. It was during this period that he attracted attention through the very large number of British compositions he introduced to the American public.His compositions of the 1930s and 1940s made a great impact and earned him something of a reputation for being the enfant terrible of American music. Although perhaps best known for his film scores, particularly through his association with Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Wells, he also wrote a number of important concert, operatic and chamber works. Wuthering Heights (1950), an opera in four acts, was first performed in 1982 in the States by Portland Opera, and the choral cantata for male voices Moby Dick (1938) received its premiere with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. A Portrait of Hitch (1968), a short orchestral piece dedicated to Alfred Hitchcock, is based on music written for the film The Trouble with Harry.Active to the end despite poor health, at the time of his death Herrmann was writing a new film score and making plans for several gramophone recordings.

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Performances

10th August 2025

PERFORMERS
NCO
CONDUCTOR
Andrew Morley
LOCATION
Bristol Beacon, Bristol, United Kingdom

11th August 2025

PERFORMERS
Studio Intensive Orchestra
LOCATION
Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, CA, United States of America

24th August 2025

PERFORMERS
Siletz Bay Music Festival Orchestra
CONDUCTOR
Johann Stuckenbruck
LOCATION
Chinook Winds Casino Resort, Lincoln City, OR, United States of America

31st August 2025

PERFORMERS
Wheeling Symphony
CONDUCTOR
John Devlin
LOCATION
Oglebay Park Outdoor Amphitheatre, Wheeling, WV, United States of America

20th September 2025

PERFORMERS
Madison Symphony Movement 3 Only
CONDUCTOR
John DeMain
LOCATION
Overture Hall, Madison, WI, United States of America
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Discography

    Midsummer Night

    Midsummer Night
    • Label
      Warner Classics
    • Catalogue Number
      2681922
    • Conductor
      Edward Gardner
    • Ensemble
      English National Opera Orchestra
    • Soloist
      Kate Royal, soprano
    • Released
      May 2009
    • Works

    Hitchcock et la Musique

    Hitchcock et la Musique

    Psycho - The Essential Alfred Hitchcock

    Psycho - The Essential Alfred Hitchcock

    Souvenirs De Voyage | Echoes

    Souvenirs De Voyage | Echoes
    • Label
      Varèse Sarabande
    • Catalogue Number
      VSD-5559
    • Soloist
      Kenneth Goldsmith, Eric Halen, violins; Lawrence Wheelerm, viola; Kevin Dvorak, cello
    • Released
      1998
    • Works

    Echoes String Quartet | Clarinet Quintet

    Echoes String Quartet | Clarinet Quintet
    • Label
      Unicorn-Kanchana
    • Catalogue Number
      UKCD 2069
    • Ensemble
      Amici Quartet
    • Soloist
      Robert Hill, clarinet
    • Released
      1994
    • Works
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