Charles Mackerras: a life in pictures ... and music

A young Alan Charles MacLaurin Mackerras, born 17 November 1925 in Schenectady, New York of Australian parents Photograph: Collect image

Mackerras plays the flute at the age of 14. 'I always wanted to become a musician,' he once said. 'It got to be that I was hardly interested in anything else. From about eight or nine I had a sort of mania about it' Photograph: Collect image

After emigrating to Britain in 1947, Mackerras received a British Council scholarship to study with the eminent Czech conductor Václav Talich in Prague Photograph: Collect

The young Mackerras, photographed around the same time Photograph: Collect

Mackerras annotating a score at his house in Pembridge Crescent, London, in 1951 Photograph: Collect

Mackerras photographed with one of his early influences, composer Benjamin Britten, at Orford church near Aldeburgh in 1959. Although the two were later to fall out – Mackerras made a badly judged joke at the older man's expense – Mackerras's clear, precise approach made him a superlative interpreter of Britten's music Photograph: Collect

Mackerras with his wife, Judy Wilkins, on their golden wedding aniversary in 1997 Photograph: Collect

Mackerras rehearses with the Prague Chamber Orchestra in Rudolfinum Hall in 2002 for a concert marking the orchestra's 50th birthday. Czech music – particularly that of Janáček – was a lifelong fascination Photograph: Czech News Agency/PA

Just a few months ago Mackerras was presented with the Artis Bohemiae Amicis medal (Friends of Czech Arts) for promotion of Czech art abroad Photograph: Ivan Babej/isifa/Getty Images

In addition to his concert work, Mackerras maintained a busy career in the opera house. For his 80th birthday in 2005, he conducted the Royal Opera's revival of Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Mackerras at home in London, 2005. 'I'd quite like to die on the podium,' he joked in an interview with the Guardian that year. 'Well, something like that, anyway' Photograph: Eamonn McCabe