Russell Stanger (1924-2015)

Russell Stanger, former music director of the Norfolk-based orchestra now called the Virginia Symphony, has died at 90.

An assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic (1960-62) during Leonard Bernstein’s tenure, Stanger in 1966 assumed artistic direction of what was then the Norfolk Symphony and led the orchestra for 14 years. He also guest-conducted internationally and was a composer and teacher.

An obituary by Lorraine Eaton for The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk:

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/01/conductor-stanger-was-thankful-friends-talents

Stanger conducts London’s Royal Philharmonic, accompanying pianist Earl Wild, in this excerpt from Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76ANl6ilOv4