Sergiu Comissiona, 76, Prolific Conductor
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Sergiu Comissiona, the Romanian born conductor known for the spontaneity and flair that he brought to orchestras around the world, died of a heart attack in an Oklahoma City hotel room, hours before he was to serve as guest conductor for that city’s philharmonic, officials said. He was 76.
Comissiona held music directorships with some of North America’s leading ensembles, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Houston Symphony. He was music director of the New York City Opera for a year in the 1980s.
Comissiona spent 15 years with the Baltimore orchestra, transforming it from a little-known ensemble into a nationally respected orchestra.
From childhood, Comissiona wanted to conduct. “From 7 years, I started to go to concerts, collecting autographs and preparing the scores for the concert during the week and, of course, dreaming that the conductor would be sick. Then I would jump on the stage, make my debut and I would be famous.
“It did happen, with the Romanian State Ensemble – without poisoning the conductor,” he said.
A hotel worker found him dead.
