Role

:

Conductor Performer

Country

:

Romania

Birth

:

June 16, 1928 in Bucharest, Romania

Death

:

March 5, 2005 in Oklahoma City, OK

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Sergiu Comissiona was a Romanian-born conductor who made a significant impact on the classical music world during his lifetime. Born on June 16, 1928, in Bucharest, Romania, Comissiona showed an early interest in music and began studying the violin at the age of six. He later attended the Bucharest Conservatory, where he studied conducting with George Georgescu. Comissiona's career as a conductor began in Romania, where he served as the principal conductor of the Romanian National Opera from 1955 to 1959. He then moved to Israel, where he became the principal conductor of the Haifa Symphony Orchestra from 1959 to 1962. During this time, he also conducted the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. In 1960, Comissiona made his debut with the New York Philharmonic, conducting a program of works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Bartók. This performance marked the beginning of a long and successful career in the United States. In 1962, he was appointed the associate conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and he later served as the music director of the orchestra from 1969 to 1984. During his tenure with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Comissiona led the orchestra on numerous tours and made several acclaimed recordings. He also commissioned and premiered many new works, including pieces by John Corigliano, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, and Christopher Rouse. Comissiona was known for his ability to bring out the best in orchestras and for his skill in interpreting a wide range of musical styles. He was particularly admired for his performances of the music of Gustav Mahler, and he conducted many of Mahler's symphonies with great success. In addition to his work with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Comissiona held positions with several other orchestras throughout his career. He served as the music director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra from 1980 to 1986, and he was the principal conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra in Sweden from 1982 to 1988. He also guest conducted many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Comissiona received many honors and awards throughout his career. In 1975, he was awarded the Ditson Conductor's Award, which is given annually to a conductor who has made a significant contribution to American music. He was also awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1986, which is the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government. Comissiona continued to conduct well into his seventies, and he remained an active and respected figure in the classical music world until his death on March 5, 2005, at the age of 76. His legacy lives on through his many recordings and through the many musicians he inspired and mentored throughout his career.

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