Maurice Abravanel

Maurice Abravanel was a Sephardic Jewish conductor, born in Thessaloniki to a family descended from the medieval statesman and scholar Isaac Abarbanel, who led the Utah Symphony Orchestra for more than three decades and transformed it into a nationally respected ensemble. After fleeing Nazi Germany, he conducted at the Metropolitan Opera and on Broadway before making Salt Lake City his artistic home. He was known for championing large-scale choral and symphonic works and recorded a celebrated Mahler cycle.