While still in high school, Previn worked as a jazz pianist and wrote orchestrations for MGM. Later, he was hired as the studio's music director. His jazz trio achieved considerable success in the 1950s and his jazzed up version of My Fair Lady (in collaboration with Shelly Manne ) started his run of jazz albums made from Broadway musical scores.
As an orchestral conductor, Previn has enjoyed a distinguished career. He has been conductor of—among others—the Houston Symphony Orchestra (1967–69),...