Sergiu Comissiona
Sergiu Comissiona (1928 in Bucharest, Romania - March 5, 2005, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA) was a Romanian-American conductor.
A familiar figure in over 25 countries, Sergiu Comissiona was internationally recognized as one of the most dynamic, sensitive, and experienced conductors of his time.
Born in Bucharest, Romania, he began violin studies at the age of five, was hired as a violinist by the Romanian State Ensemble while still in his teens, making his conducting debut at the age of 17. In his twenties he was named Principal Conductor of the Romanian State Opera from 1955 to 1959.
He fled the Communist regime in 1959 and emigrated to Israel. In 1960 he founded the Ramat Gan Chamber Orchestra, which he led until 1967. He also directed the Haifa Symphony from 1959 until 1966. He made his American debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1965 and emigrated to the United States in 1968. Later he was also music director of the Goteborg, Sweden, Symphony from 1966-77, and became chief conductor of the Radio Philharmonic in Hilversum, Holland, in 1982. He also held music directorships with some of North America's leading ensembles, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and was also music director of the New York City Opera. Beginning in 1969 he spent 15 years with the Baltimore Orchestra and transformed it from a little-known ensemble into a nationally respected orchestra, eventually leading taking it on its first international tour and directing it in its first recordings.
He premiered and gave the first recordings of a number of modern works including symphonies by Allan Pettersson (see [1]), who dedicated his ninth symphony to him.
His discography exceeds 18 albums. He was honored as a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government, and was awarded an honorary doctorate at Boston's New England Conservatory, was an honorary member of the Swedish Academy of Music and founder of the Baltimore's Symphony Orchestra's national competition for young American conductors.
Comissiona and his wife became American citizens on July 4, 1976, at a special Bicentennial ceremony at Fort McHenry on Baltimore Harbor. He was a longtime resident of New York City.
Cause of death: heart attack, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, hours before a scheduled performance there.