Werner Torkanowsky (March 30, 1926 - October 20, 1992) was a German-American conductor, composer and violinist.
After receiving the Naumburg Award in 1961, Torkanowsky made his debut with the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Opera, where he conducted Gian Carlo Menotti's The Medium and The Consul, for which he also served as conductor for a film of the opera, starring Patricia Neway and Chester Ludgin.
He went on to conduct many major orchestras, including those in Israel, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Detroit, as well as Samuel Barber's opera Vanessa at the Spoleto Festival.
From 1963 to 1977, Torkanowsky was music director and chief conductor of the New Orleans Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra.
[1] Following his death, the Symphony published a double Compact Disc set of various performances dating from 1989 to 1992.