died Sept. 30 at the age of 95.
One of the few modern composers who wrote music opera audiences could relate to and enjoy. Not too many years ago I was attending the Arizona Opera production of Susannah. The exec director of the Arizona Opera comes out before the start to let the audience know that the composer was present that evening, then asked him to stand. When the guy sitting right next to me stood up I was in awe! I had also thoroughly enjoyed his Of Mice and Men and let him know it.