André Cluytens (1905–1967) was known for flowing elegance, fidelity to the score, and temperament without any trace of showmanship. He was the first Frenchman to conduct at Bayreuth, made the first complete recording of Beethoven’s symphonies with the Berlin Philharmonic, and was also a frequent and welcome guest in Lucerne. In 1954, he met the young Igor Oistrakh and earned standing ovations with Khachaturian’s brilliant Violin Concerto and Franck’s Symphony in D minor.
