Boris Brott, emblematic conductor of the McGill Chamber Orchestra, now Orchester Classique de Montréal, died Tuesday in Hamilton hit by a car.
The news of Boris Brott’s death was published around 5 p.m. on Tuesday on the Orchester Classique de Montréal’s Facebook site by its management and administrators: “The entire OCM family is in a state of shock and disbelief. Boris Brott was the heart and soul of the Orchester Classique de Montréal, an extraordinary ambassador of classical music, recognized beyond our borders, a mentor to countless young musicians and a very dear friend to many of us. . His sudden passing leaves a deep void in the music community and great sadness in our hearts.
Hit and run
The daily Hamilton Spectator reported at the same time that Boris Brott was mowed down in the morning by a vehicle driven by a driver who had committed a hit and run. The 33-year-old driver was later arrested by police. Boris Brott was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Born in Montreal in 1944, son of Lotte and Alexander Brott, Boris was a conductor, violinist, teacher and lecturer. He had studied conducting with Pierre Monteux and Igor Markevitch before attending Walter Susskind in Toronto. Winner in 1968 of the Dimitri Mitropoulos International Music Competition in New York, he became Leonard Bernstein’s assistant during the 1968-1969 season. In 1989, he was appointed associate artistic director of Alexander Brott’s McGill Chamber Orchestra, which he took over in 2000. Boris Brott notably conducted Opera Hamilton and was named first conductor of the concerts for young people and educational concerts for the National Arts Center, which paid tribute to him last night in New York.
He had given significant new impetus in recent seasons to the McGill Chamber Orchestra by making it the Orchester Classique de Montréal, with an enriched and diversified program that reflects the community.
“The OCM remains dedicated to the highest musical ideals of its founders, Alexander and Lotte Brott, ideals which were pursued with passion and determination by our dear Maestro Brott. We will continue our mission to present concerts of high quality that touch our audience, concerts inspired by the standards of excellence set by Boris, by his indomitable spirit, by his dedication to sharing his musical talents and by his love for the humanity. Could we read on Tuesday, when emotional testimonies poured in on social networks.
Boris Brott is survived by his wife, Ardyth, his children, Ben, Alexandra and David, his grandchildren and his brother Denis.