Howard Mitchell

Howard Mitchell (1910 – 22 June 1988, Palm Coast, Florida) was an American cellist and conductor. He conducted the National Symphony Orchestra from 1950 to 1969.

According to music critic Ted Libbey, Mitchell "personified the optimism that permeated Washington and America after World War II; he socialized, schmoozed and charmed the ladies of high Washington society, fitting right in, playing the role of music director as he played the cello. He saw the symphony as a necessary component of the city's social and cultural life, an institution to be supported by the enlightened few and used to educate and enrich the many." Nonetheless Mitchell's tenure was "the artistic nadir of the National Symphony". [cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090200542_2.html | title=The NSO: 75 and Counting Its Blessings | publisher=Washington Post | date=4 Sep 2005 | accessdate=2007-04-28]

References

External links

*allmusic|41:|Howard Mitchell

* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE4D61030F930A15755C0A96E948260 Howard Mitchell obituary] at the "New York Times"