Otto Klemperer (1885–1973) was a legendary German conductor and composer, widely recognized for his powerful interpretations of Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, and Mahler. A protégé of Gustav Mahler, Klemperer began his career in European opera houses and later became director of the progressive Berlin Kroll Opera. Forced into exile by the rise of the Nazi regime, he continued his career in the United States and later in the UK.

Klemperer’s post-war recordings with the Philharmonia Orchestra are considered benchmarks of orchestral performance, noted for their structural clarity, gravitas, and fidelity to the score. His slow, deliberate tempos and architectural approach helped redefine interpretations of the classical and romantic repertoire.