Bernard Haitink (1929–2021) was a renowned Dutch conductor celebrated for his clarity, humility, and deep musical insight. He held major posts with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, the London Philharmonic, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among others.

Known especially for his interpretations of Beethoven, Bruckner, Mahler, and Shostakovich, Haitink was admired for letting the music speak without ego