Victor Alessandro American orchestral conductor Date of Birth: 27.11.1915 Country: USA

Biography of Victor Alessandro

Victor Nicholas Alessandro, an American orchestral conductor, was born on November 27, 1915, in Waco, Texas. He was the son of renowned music teacher and conductor, Victor Alessandro Sr. In 1919, Victor and his family moved to Houston.

Alessandro was introduced to music at a young age, as his father taught him to play the trumpet. At the age of four, he made his conducting debut, leading a group of children performing "March of the Toys" by Victor Herbert.

In 1932, Alessandro enrolled in the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied composition under Howard Hanson. He furthered his musical education at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and the St. Cecilia Academy in Rome, where he was taught by renowned Italian conductor and music critic, Ildebrando Pizzetti.

In 1938, at the age of 22, Alessandro was appointed as the conductor of the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra. Over the years, he helped elevate the orchestra's level of performance. In December 1950, after the death of Max Reiter, the conductor of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Alessandro temporarily took on his duties until he signed a permanent contract in April 1951. He later took over the leadership of the Grand Opera Festival organized by the San Antonio Symphony Society.

In 1956, Alessandro married flutist Ruth Drisko. The couple had two children, Victor Tabbut Alessandro (born in 1958) and Ruth Ann Alessandro (born in 1959).

Alessandro's best works included compositions by Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and Richard Strauss. He also had a talent for interpreting Brahms and Beethoven's symphonies. Alessandro introduced the San Antonio audience to the works of Anton Bruckner, Gustav Mahler, and Alban Berg before they gained popularity elsewhere.

He conducted memorable operas such as "Elektra," "Nabucco," "Salome," "Boris Godunov," "Susannah," and "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg" by Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. Several of his works were recorded, including Claude Debussy's "Martyrdom of St. Sebastian," Rodrigo's guitar concertos, compositions by Richard Strauss and John Corigliano, among others.

When Alessandro's health began to deteriorate, he retired in 1976. He passed away on November 27, 1976, in San Antonio, on his 61st birthday. His daughter Ruth Ann passed away on October 9, 1992, and his wife Ruth on December 5, 1996.

Alessandro received honorary doctorates from the Eastman School of Music, Southwest Texas State University, and Southern Methodist University. He was also honored with the Ditson Conductor's Award for his contribution to the musical life of the United States.