Gilbert E. Kaplan American businessman, journalist and amateur conductor. Date of Birth: 03.03.1941 Country: USA

1. David W. Kaplan: Business Magnate, Journalist, and Amateur Conductor
2. Early Life and Education
3. Founding Institutional Investor
4. Passion for Mahler's Music
5. Conducting and Recordings
6. Other Mahler Projects
7. Reception and Legacy

David W. Kaplan: Business Magnate, Journalist, and Amateur Conductor

American businessman, journalist, and amateur conductor David W. Kaplan enjoyed a multifaceted career that spanned multiple disciplines.

Early Life and Education

Kaplan hailed from a family of businessmen. He pursued his studies at Duke University, The New School, and New York University School of Law, honing his skills in business, journalism, and the humanities.

Founding Institutional Investor

In 1965, Kaplan founded Institutional Investor magazine, which quickly gained prominence in the business world. Over time, it amassed over 150,000 subscribers and made Kaplan a millionaire. He remained the magazine's owner, publisher, and editor-in-chief until 1984, when he sold it for $72 million. Despite the sale, he continued to serve as publisher until 1990 and as editor-in-chief for three more years.

Passion for Mahler's Music

In the mid-1960s, Kaplan discovered a deep fascination for the music of Gustav Mahler. This passion gradually consumed a significant portion of his life. He established the Kaplan Fund, dedicated to the study and dissemination of Mahler's works.

Conducting and Recordings

Kaplan's devotion to Mahler's Symphony No. 2 motivated him to acquire the composer's original manuscript, which he published as a facsimile in 1986. He also began studying conducting specifically to direct this particular work.

In 1982, Kaplan made his conducting debut with the American Symphony Orchestra at an informal concert held for attendees of the International Monetary Fund summit. He subsequently performed Mahler's Symphony No. 2 with many of the world's leading orchestras. In 1996, he opened the prestigious Salzburg Festival with the London Symphony Orchestra, showcasing the same symphony.

Kaplan collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra to record the symphony in 1987 and with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 2002. The former recording outsold those conducted by renowned maestros such as Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, and Claudio Abbado.

Other Mahler Projects

Beyond his conducting endeavors, Kaplan released "The Mahler Album," an illustrated biography of the composer. In 1997, he hosted a 13-week radio series dedicated to Mahler, which aired on over 350 stations across the United States.

Reception and Legacy

Kaplan's contributions to the musical world have elicited mixed reactions. Professional musicians often criticize his technical shortcomings and limited adherence to the spiritual depth of the works he performs. Despite this critique, he remains a beloved figure among music enthusiasts.

Kaplan's journey exemplifies the pursuit of one's passion regardless of traditional career paths or conventions. His story serves as an inspiration to those who dare to dream and find fulfillment outside the boundaries of their primary professions.