Rafael Fruehbeck de Burgos, leading Spanish conductor, dies aged 80

MADRID – Rafael Fruehbeck de Burgos, one of Spain’s most prestigious conductors who performed with dozens of orchestras around the world, has died. He was 80.

Fruehbeck de Burgos died Wednesday from cancer, his management company Musiespana said in a statement on its website. The illness had forced him to announce his retirement last week, it said.

Born in the northern Spanish city of Burgos, Fruehbeck de Burgos studied at the Bilbao and Madrid conservatories and later in Munich. He began his career with the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra and from 1962-78 was principal conductor of the Spanish National Orchestra.

During his career he performed with dozens of orchestras in Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan and Israel.

In the U.S., he appeared with the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, among others.

Burgos had been the principal director of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra since the beginning of the 2012/2013 season.

He also left more than 100 recordings, his management company said.

No information was immediately available about funeral arrangements or his family.