One of Germany’s greatest conductors has died.

Wolfgang Sawallisch enjoyed a lengthy career with numerous highlights. He debuted at the Bayreuth Festival in 1957, becoming the youngest conductor ever to appear  there. He was also the youngest ever to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic, and the first non-Italian to win the Golden Baton at La Scala. He was music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1993 to 2003.

He was forced to step down from the podium in 2006 because of low blood pressure.

Wolfgang Sawallisch was 89.