Eugene Kohn American pianist and conductor Country: USA

1. Biography of Eugene Khan
2. Early Career
3. International Success
4. Continued Success and Contributions
5. Recordings and Other Endeavors

Biography of Eugene Khan

Eugene Khan is an American pianist and conductor. He was born in New York City and grew up in Manhattan and Queens. At the age of five, he began taking piano lessons at the insistence of his mother and eventually enrolled in the Manhattan School of Music. Khan started his musical career at a young age, working as an accompanist for opera stars such as Maria Callas, Franco Corelli, Luciano Pavarotti, and Renata Tebaldi, his favorite singer. He was mentored in conducting by Fausto Cleva at the Metropolitan Opera and later worked under Thomas Schippers and Erich Leinsdorf.

Early Career

After several years of working with regional symphony orchestras, Khan established himself with a diverse repertoire and began regularly performing at the Metropolitan Opera (MET). His debut at the MET was in 1980 with "La Gioconda" starring Renata Scotto, and his talent and skill were soon recognized. He was invited to conduct at major opera houses in Vienna, Hamburg, Paris, Rome, Naples, Barcelona, and Buenos Aires. Additionally, he has appeared as a guest conductor with renowned orchestras around the world. James Levine later invited Khan to conduct the MET orchestra on multiple occasions.

International Success

From 1992 to 1997, Eugene Khan served as the principal guest conductor of the Bonn Opera in Germany, collaborating with conductor GianCarlo Del Monaco on productions such as "Der Rosenkavalier," "Don Giovanni," "La Fanciulla del West," "Die Zauberflöte," "Otello," "Fidelio," and many others. From 1994 to 2002, he also held the position of music director of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, where he invested significant efforts in revitalizing the orchestra. As a result, the orchestra grew, expanded its repertoire, secured a new budget, and attracted a new audience. In 2005, Khan was awarded the honorary position of conductor of the orchestra.

Continued Success and Contributions

Since 1999, Khan has been a frequent guest conductor at the Washington National Opera, leading the orchestra in productions of "I Pagliacci," "Tosca," "La Bohème," "Un Ballo in Maschera," "Fedora," "Andrea Chenier," and "Madama Butterfly." Today, he divides his time between opera and symphonic performances and recently completed projects on the musical cycles of Gustav Mahler and Igor Stravinsky. Khan's extensive experience working with leading opera artists has made him a highly sought-after conductor among the most famous singers of our time, including Roberto Alagna, Marcelo Álvarez, Plácido Domingo, Marcello Giordani, Salvatore Licitra, Neil Shicoff, Andrea Bocelli, and Luciano Pavarotti. As a pianist, Khan has performed at the White House for Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, as well as for heads of state from various European and South American countries.

Recordings and Other Endeavors

As a conductor, Khan has recorded several CDs with Plácido Domingo, including the album "Roman Heroes" in 2007 with the National Philharmonic Orchestra and the "Opera Gala Recital" featuring Ruth Ann Swenson and Thomas Hampson. He can also be heard accompanying Maria Callas on three discs of "The Master Classes" and on other recordings. In 2004, Khan made his acting debut playing himself in Franco Zeffirelli's film "Callas Forever." In his personal life, Eugene Khan is the proud father of three adult children.