Emmys 2019 ‘In Memoriam’ mix-up sees living conductor Leonard Slatkin mistaken for the late André Previn

24 September 2019, 11:43

The wrong photo appeared in the Emmys’ In Memoriam tribute to conductor André Previn, who died on 28 February 2019 at the age of 89.

A photo of conductor Leonard Slatkin was accidentally shown during the Emmys 2019 ‘In Memoriam’ segment.

Instead of showing a photo of conductor André Previn, who died on 28 February this year at the age of 89, the video featured a photo of living conductor Leonard Slatkin, while the text honoured Previn.

Slatkin took to Twitter shortly after the mix-up, and said:

“I saw that the Emmys posted a photo of me ‘In Memoriam’ rather than the intended André Previn. André deserved better. I had the opportunity to introduce him when he received the Kennedy Center Honours. Perhaps he was paying me back for a couple stories I told about him. André, R.I.P.”

Read more: Remembering André Previn >

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The Emmys has since apologised for the confusion in a statement:

“The producers for the 71st Emmy Awards, the Television Academy and FOX sincerely apologise for this error. All In Memoriam mentions on the Television Academy’s website feature accurate imagery for Mr. Previn.”

Regularly seen at the helm of Boston Symphony, New York Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic orchestras, Previn had six Emmy nominations in his lifetime including two for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction (1977 and 1978), and one for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Music for Television in 1961.

Previn was given an honorary knighthood in 1996.

Leonard Slatkin, 75, is Conductor Laureate at Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

He appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel Show last night to prove that he “is indeed still alive” and has told the Detroit Free Press that he thinks that Previn “would have been very amused” by the mix-up.