Emmys’ In Memoriam Shows Photo of Living Composer Instead of Andre Previn
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Any “In Memoriam” segment on an awards show results in immediate viewer furor over which recently deceased figures got left out. In the case of Sunday’s Emmy Awards, it was more about who got included: the very much still-with-us conductor and composer Leonard Slatkin — or at least his photographic representation, as he was misidentified as Andre Previn, who is, in fact, dead.
Slatkin was less concerned with anyone thinking he might have passed on, too, than he was about disrespect for his friend Previn.
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Tweeted Slatkin, “I saw that @theemmys posted a photo of me ‘In Memoriam’ rather than the intended Andre Previn. Andre deserved better. I had the opportunity to introduce him when he received the @KCHonors.”
In a waggish afterthought, Slatkin added, “Perhaps he was paying me back for a couple stories I told about him. Andre, R.I.P.”
Previn — who is pictured, correctly, at the top of this story — passed away Feb. 28 at age 89. He was the winner of four Oscars and eight Grammys, although he always fell a little bit short at the Emmys, perhaps as a precursor of slights to come, with six nominations but no wins.
Slatkin, 75, known primarily as one of the country’s preeminent conductors, has won four Grammys for his classical recordings, but unlike Previn never crossed over into the realm of television. He spent three years in the 2000s as principal guest conductor at the Hollywood Bowl and is the music director laureate of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. His latest album release, “Maurice Ravel Orchestral Works, Volume 6,” came out this month on Naxos Records.
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