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It is with great sadness that I report to the tuba/euphonium world the death of the great conductor, Sergiu Comissiona.
Maestro Comissiona died yesterday morning here in Oklahoma City in his hotel room. He was here guest conducting the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. We performed last nights concert in his memory with our own Music Director, Joel Levine. This was my first and now only time to work with such a great conductor. At the end of Friday's rehearsal, Comissiona nearly colapsed off the podium while conducting the final movement of Dvorak 8th Symphony. He simply wouldn't stop, even with our Pricipal Cellist standing and making sure he didn't fall. Paramedics were called to the hall, but he wouldn't go to the hospital. Maestro Levine, a former student and 30 year friend even tried to take him to his home. He simply wouldn't go. It is my understanding that in a recent interview, he had hoped that he would be still conducting up until the day he died.
Maestro Comissiona was one of the great conductors of the 20th Century. The music world has lost one of the best.
Ted Cox
Principal Tubist
Oklahoma City Philharmonic

In 1969 when I was a freshman in college I had the honor of singing Mahler's 2nd with the Baltimore Symphony under the baton of Sirgiu Comissiona. I thought he was old then! He was a demanding but talented conductor. I am saddened to hear of his passing. But what a way to go, doing at the very end what you love to do. We should all be so fortunate.