(Credit: Jesse Willems)

Legendary conductor Edo de Waart has announced his retirement after a career of six decades.

De Waart announced the news on the occasion of the celebration in Hilversum with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra where he was Principal Conductor from 1989 to 2004.

Over his extensive career, the conductor was Music Director of many orchestras including the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, the Dutch National Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Sante Fe Opera, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and Antwerp Symphony Orchestra.

He also had close relationships with the San Diego Symphony and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.

In a statement, Jasper Parrott, Executive Chairman of Harrison Parrott said, ​“at a very early stage in the establishment of HarrisonParrott in the early 1970s I was fortunate in meeting and then bonding with Edo as he ignited a new and exciting era for classical music both as the charismatic Chief of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and of the brilliant and unruly Netherlands Wind Ensemble. His groundbreaking brilliance felt like the perfect partner for Terry Harrison and me in our disruptive search for change in the staid and static world of that time. I am proud to honour him as a great master of his art, for his inspiring leadership around the world in promoting and inspiring such a vast and inclusive repertoire of great music.”