Robert Harth, at 47; executive, artistic director of Carnegie Hall

February 02, 2004|Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Robert Harth, who became head of Carnegie Hall just days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and led America's premier classical music venue into an adventurous new era, died of a heart attack Friday at his apartment near the hall. He was 47.

Mr. Harth, Carnegie's executive and artistic director, had planned to announce the hall's new season tomorrow, including the second year of programs at the Judy and Arthur Zankel Hall. His reputation as a cutting-edge arts administrator grew with last year's opening of the $72 million, 644-seat hall carved into the bedrock under Carnegie's main auditorium. Mr. Harth spearheaded an eclectic blend of programming at Zankel, from new classical compositions, jazz, and rock to avant-garde theater that drew a wider audience than usually attends Carnegie performances.

During the two-week festival inaugurating Zankel Hall in September, a beaming Mr. Harth could be seen every night in a balcony seat.

"We want the widest possible audience to experience the hall -- a window through which to explore the wonders of different musical genres," Mr. Harth told the Associated Press. "We're stepping out of our comfort zone in Zankel Hall. We're being adventurous!"

Mr. Harth was the third head of Carnegie Hall since 1998, when Judith Arron died of cancer. She was succeeded by Franz Xaver Ohnesorg, who left amid staff dissent over his leadership.

"Robert created a different atmosphere -- much more relaxed," said mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne, whose musical foundation sponsors a series of Carnegie events to promote young singers.

"He was so incredibly enthusiastic! He had a great spirit that permeated everything at Carnegie Hall," said Horne. Mr. Harth started working at Carnegie days after arriving in New York on Sept. 8, 2001. He was soon planning a memorial concert after the terrorist attacks and installing metal detectors at Carnegie's front entrance to screen spectators.

That same month, former hall president and famed violinist Isaac Stern died.

"Baptism by fire? Absolutely," Mr. Harth wrote of his new job in the September/October 2002 issue of Symphony magazine.

Before taking over at Carnegie Hall, he was president and chief executive of the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado. An agile fund-raiser who significantly increased Aspen's endowment, he acknowledged that it had become difficult to raise money for the arts in recent years.

The Louisville, Ky., native brought to that practical task a background as a trained violinist, flutist, and composer and a bachelor's degree in English literature. Mr. Harth began his career at the Ravinia Festival in 1975 as production manager of the Chicago Symphony's summer series. He then served as manager of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, also overseeing the Hollywood Bowl.

Mr. Harth leaves his companion, Stacey Buck; his parents, Sidney and Teresa Testa Harth; a sister, Laura Harth Rodriguez; a son, Jeffrey Curtis; and his former wife, Melanie.