American conductor John Nelson passed away on March 31, 2025. He was 83.
Born in San José, Costa Rica, to American missionary parents, Nelson studied at Wheaton College and later at the Juilliard School. He went on to serve as music director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (1976-1987), Opera Theatre of St. Louis (1985-1988), the Caramoor Music Festival in New York (1983-1990), and the Orchestre de chambre de Paris (1998-2008). Additionally, he appeared at the New York City Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera.
John Nelson was a noted Berlioz specialist. His recording of Berlioz’ five-act opera, Les Troyens, with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and vocalists including Joyce DiDonato, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, and Michael Spyres, was awarded Gramophone’s 2018 Recording of the Year. Following the project, Nelson commented, “I have had the enormous privilege of recording what I consider to be the greatest French opera, with a predominately French cast, which has never been done before in all the recordings to date…”
Berlioz: Les Troyens, Op. 29 (“Nuit d’ivresse et d’extase infinie!”)
Hector Berlioz considered the massive 1853 French grand opera, Les Troyens, to be one of his greatest achievements. Unfolding over the course of five hours, the plot centers around the fall of ancient Troy. Act IV concludes with a love duet between Aeneas, the leader of the Trojans, and Dido, Queen of Carthage. Dido laments her love for Aeneas, and the impending defeat of her kingdom.
Berlioz: Les Troyens, Op. 29 (“Chasse royale et orage”)
The orchestral interlude, “Royal Hunt and Storm,” is heard earlier in Act IV. At moments, this programmatic music anticipates works of Wagner to come:
Handel: Messiah, HWV 56
This thrillingly theatrical performance of Handel’s 1741 oratorio features John Nelson and the English Concert and Choir with Lucy Crowe (Soprano), Alex Potter (Countertenor), Michael Spyres (Tenor), Matthew Brook (Bass-baritone):
Recordings
- Berlioz: Les Troyens, Op. 29, Joyce DiDonato, Michael Spyres, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Stéphane Degout, Nicolas Courjal, Marianne Crebassa, Hanna Hipp, Cyrille Dubois, Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Philippe Sly, Agnieszka Slawinska, Jean Teitgen, Bertrand Grunenwald, Jérôme Varnier, Frédéric Caton Choeur de l’Opéra du Rhin, Badischer Staatsopernchor, Choeur philharmonique de Strasbourg, Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg, John Nelsons Amazon
- Handel: Messiah, HWV 56, John Nelson, The English Concert, Michael Spyres, The English Concert, Lucy Crowe, Alex Potter, Matthew Brook Warner Classics