'Genius' conductor Kleiber dies

Carlos Kleiber was seen as a mysterious character

Celebrated conductor Carlos Kleiber, described by Luciano Pavarotti as a "genius", has died at the age of 74.

With a reputation for rarely performing, Austrian-Argentine Kleiber refused to join a company, preferring to take guest conductor roles.

He died on 13 July and was buried in Konjscia, Slovenia, on Saturday.

"The greatest living conductor has left us," Ioan Holender, director of the Vienna State Opera, told the Austria Press Agency.

The son of conductor Erich Kleiber, the family fled Nazi rule and settled in Argentina.

Carlos Kleiber was a musical genius beyond words Luciano Pavarotti

Carlos Kleiber was considered one of the great conductors of the late 20th Century, mentioned alongside Leonard Bernstein and Georg Solti.

But he was surrounded in mystique because of his refusal to give interviews and the relatively few performances he gave. He largely retired from the scene in 1994, but gave a final series in Spain and Italy.

"Carlos Kleiber was a musical genius beyond words," Pavarotti said in a statement.

"Music-loving audiences the world over were deprived of the privilege of experiencing him in public in more recent years, but he was a unique conductor and an extraordinary interpreter and the music world has suffered a tragic loss."

'Empty freezer'

He was also known to be a difficult performer, often cancelling performances at the last minute.

German conductor Herbert von Karajan once commented: "Kleiber only goes on stage when his freezer is empty."

Kleiber originally studied chemistry in Switzerland but his musical talent won over and he made his conducting debut in Potsdam, Germany.

He made his US debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1978.

He conducted at New York's Metropolitan Opera 19 times over two years, but later refused to conduct again in the US.

Kleiber has been buried next to his wife, who died in December.