Former Opera Conductor Knud Andersson Dies At 86
Times Picayune 12-3-1996

*************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
************************************************  

Knud D. Andersson, former music director and resident conductor of the New
Orleans Opera Association, died Sunday at Tulane University Medical Center of
complications from a hip fracture. He was 86.

Mr. Andersson joined the opera company in 1953 as assistant conductor and
choral director. He held those posts under general directors Walter Herbert
and Renato Cellini until becoming music director and resident conductor in
1965 upon Cellini's retirement.

Before he retired in 1983, Mr. Andersson conducted more than 160 performances
of more than 50 works for the New Orleans Opera, including the world premiere
of Carlisle Floyd's "Markheim" and the New Orleans premieres of Verdi's
"Attila" and Richard Strauss' "Arabella" and "Ariadne auf Naxos."

Among the singers with whom he worked in New Orleans were Beverly Sills,
Norman Treigle, Placido Domingo, Richard Tucker, Montserrat Caballe, Inge
Borkh, Sherrill Milnes and Dorothy Kirsten.

Mr. Andersson had a wide repertory of works in several languages, but he was
most noted for his performances of German works, especially the operas of
Strauss and Wagner. He was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit by the West
German government in 1970. He received certificates of merit from the city in
1957 and 1967.

Mr. Andersson was born in Bochum, Germany. After early study of the piano and
organ with his father, he attended the Music Academy of Cologne and Cologne
University, where he studied piano and conducting. After two years in
California, where he studied and performed as a pianist, he received a
doctorate in musicology from Cologne University.

During this period he conducted the Bonn Chamber Orchestra and the Cologne
University chorus and orchestra. His earliest professional theater experience
was with the State Opera in Cologne, after which he was associated with the
opera houses in Bonn and Bielefeld, Germany.

He came to the United States in 1951, teaching at Morningside College and
traveling as an accompanist to singers such as Herva Nelli and Irra Petina
until settling in New Orleans.

Besides regular New Orleans Opera performances, Mr. Andersson also led
performances of the Experimental Opera Theatre of America and the Repertory
Opera Theatre, two efforts by the parent company to provide performing
opportunities for young artists.

He also worked as a vocal coach with singers such as Ruth Falcon and Anthony
Laciura, guest-conducted Saint-Saens' "Samson et Dalila" at the Barcelona
Opera in 1974 and conducted performances by the New Orleans Musica da Camera
of Schutz's "Christmas" Oratorio and by the New Orleans Recreation Department
Opera of Puccini's "La Rondine."

Survivors include his wife, Liselotte N. Andersson; two sons, W. Paul and Hans
C. Andersson; a daughter, Christiane Andersson of New York City; a sister,
Inge Lutze of Tamarac, Fla.; and four grandchildren.

A funeral will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral
Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Burial will be
in Metairie Cemetery.