- Edwin McArthur
Edwin McArthur (24 September 1907 – 24 February 1987) was a celebrated American
classical music conductor,pianist andaccompanist . From 1935 until her retirement in 1955 he was the usual accompanist of the Norwegian sopranoKirsten Flagstad .McArthur was born in
Denver, Colorado and, having begun work as a professional pianist, studied piano at theJuilliard School of Music and moved toNew York as a music teacher andorganist . He was married to his wife Blanche (a lifelong partnership) in 1930: she survived him. He applied for a post to la Flagstad soon after her debut at theMetropolitan Opera (which took place on 2 February 1935) and she chose him for her accompanist for her tour of that year. She encouraged him to study with her the repertoire of Scandinavian songs, especiallyGrieg , and it was his custom to play accompaniments from memory.He made his conducting debut during an
Australian tour with her, inSydney in 1938. In 1941, he became possibly the first American-born conductor to lead a work at the Metropolitan Opera House, conducting Flagstad andLauritz Melchior in "Tristan und Isolde ". [New York Times, 25 February 1987.] His readings were considered lyrical and expressive, and Flagstad insisted that he should direct performances wherever she went. McArthur championed American songs, and Flagstad recorded two of his own - "Night" and "We Have Turned Again Home" - in the early 1950s. He remained her conductor right through to her retirement in 1955, persuading her to make final appearances inWagner ian scenes at her farewell concert atCarnegie Hall on 20 March 1955, for the benefit of theSymphony of the Air . He wrote a Memoir of his work with Flagstad, published in 1960.In 1946-7 he was connected with revivals of Sweethearts and
Show Boat on Broadway. He was also associated with the singersEzio Pinza andJohn Charles Thomas . He was for 23 years music director of theSt. Louis Municipal Opera. He conducted theHarrisburg (Pa.) Symphony 1950-1974, and from 1967 to 1972 he was director of theEastman School of Music opera department. In 1976 he conducted Wagner's "Die Walkure " at theTeatro San Carlo inNaples . He coached privately in later years;Hildegard Behrens studied with him before singingBrunnhilde in Wagner's "Ring" cycle. [New York Times, 25 February 1987.]His rumoured identity as Cosmé McMoon, the accompanist of the diva
Florence Foster Jenkins (who died soon after her farewell concert in 1944), was revealed in a radio interview. [Source: INTERVIEW WITH COSME MCMOON (KALW, 5/26/91) (Weekend Radio, WCLV, 26501 Emery Industrial Parkway, Cleveland OH 44128).]Writing
*E. McArthur, "Flagstad: A Personal Memoir" (Alfred A. Knopf, New York 1965, reprint 1980)
Notes
Sources
* T. Page, "Edwin McArthur, conductor and accompanist, dies at 79". (New York Times, 25 February 1987).
* N. Douglas, "Kirsten Flagstad in Song" (disc liner), (Nimbus Prima Voce NI 7871.)
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