Désiré Defauw

Désiré Defauw (September 5, 1885, Ghent, Belgium – July 25, 1960, Gary, Indiana, United States) was a Belgian conductor and violinist. He was professor of conducting at the Brussels Conservatory and was the first conductor of the Orchestre National de Belgique from 1937. He left Belgium for North America in 1940 and was music director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 1941 to 1952. He was also music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestr... more

Désiré Defauw (September 5, 1885, Ghent, Belgium – July 25, 1960, Gary, Indiana, United States) was a Belgian conductor and violinist. He was professor of conducting at the Brussels Conservatory and was the first conductor of the Orchestre National de Belgique from 1937. He left Belgium for North America in 1940 and was music director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 1941 to 1952. He was also music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1943 to 1947. In 1947 he recorded the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the CSO and Mischa Elman as soloist. Defauw was also a composer. less