Sergiu Comissiona, the elegant Romanian-born conductor who transformed the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra from a little-known ensemble into a nationally respected orchestra, taking it to Carnegie Hall and Europe and winning for it the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, was found dead yesterday in his Oklahoma City hotel room.
Maestro Comissiona apparently died of a heart attack, hours before he was to serve as guest conductor for the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.
The New York resident was 76.
Known for the spontaneity and flair that he brought to the orchestra's playing, Maestro Comissiona led the BSO from 1969 to 1984.
"He elevated this orchestra to a level that had never been aspired to, and he created the platform from which to build a world-class orchestra," said John Gidwitz, former BSO president.
During his tenure in Baltimore, Maestro Comissiona created an orchestra that, though at times technically uneven, played with passion and expressiveness. The conductor also laid the groundwork for the symphony to take its place among the nation's foremost orchestras. He gradually expanded its season to 52 weeks - a necessary step for it to become truly polished. "They were talking world-class when he was around. That had not happened before," said Melissa Zaraya, a BSO violinist for more than three decades. "He had a wonderful way with French music."
The maestro led the symphony on its first international tour, of Mexico in September 1979. But of greater significance was its tour of East Germany and West Germany in May 1981. The BSO was the first American orchestra to be invited to the renowned Dresden Music Festival, according to Rheda Becker, who documented the tour for National Public Radio.
The orchestra also made its first recordings under Maestro Comissiona. Among the pieces were Respighi's The Pines of Rome and Roman Festivals, and the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony.
One of his grandest accomplishments was gaining the orchestra a permanent home. He is credited with persuading Baltimore philanthropist Joseph Meyerhoff to build the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, a $23 million concert hall that opened in September 1982.
"He stressed that if Baltimore was to have a world-class orchestra, the symphony needed a place where they could practice whenever they wanted to, where they could play whenever they wanted to," said Calman "Buddy" Zamoiski Jr., former longtime BSO board chairman. "You have to give him credit for persuading Mr. Meyerhoff how important it was for the symphony to have a home."
