Mark Ermler, 69; Orchestra Conductor, Bolshoi Music Director

Mark Ermler, 69, who in recent years served as musical director of Russia’s Bolshoi Theater and conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, died Sunday in Seoul of kidney failure.

Born in Leningrad, Ermler debuted as a symphonic conductor with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra in 1952, when he was only 20. He joined the Bolshoi Theater in 1956, and conducted more than 2,000 performances in Europe, the United States, Canada and Japan.

Six years ago, he was appointed music director and chief conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 1998, he returned to the Bolshoi Theater as music director. He earned a Russian State Prize and the title of People’s Artist of Russia.

Ermler had been in South Korea as chief conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic since May 2000.