At the Lausanne Conservatory Charles Dutoit studied violin, conducting and theory of music, following this by a period at the Geneva Conservatory where he continued with conducting and took up the viola. After obtaining his diploma in conducting from Geneva in 1958, he studied with Alceo Galliera at Siena, and during 1959 with Charles Munch at Tanglewood. Between 1957 and 1959 he played the viola in several different orchestras in both Europe and South America, subsequently becoming the conductor of the Lausanne University Choir in 1959, and in 1963 of the Lausanne Bach Choir. He was appointed as the second conductor of the Berne Symphony Orchestra in 1964, succeeding Paul Kletzki as chief conductor in 1967, and remaining in this position until...