Renowned conductor dies during visit

Randall Behr, an accomplished conductor who was in town as an IU School of Music guest music director, unexpectedly died in his sleep Thursday afternoon at a Bloomington hotel. \nBehr, who was in his early 50s, was in Bloomington preparing performers for the season-opening showing of "Così fan tutte," one of his favorite operas, said Maria Levy, executive administrator of IU Opera Theatre program.\nThe opera will still be performed Sept. 23 and will be dedicated to Behr. A replacement director will be announced sometime before Sept. 23. Behr had directed two other performances at IU, and was continously asked to return because students were such huge fans of his teaching style, Levy said. \n"The students loved him because he dedicated extra time to coach and prepare them," Levy said. "He had a gift of giving knowledge, and loved to work with students."\nBehr has a long list of professional accomplishments, including 24 productions as resident conductor of the Los Angeles Opera. He had also conducted the San Francisco Opera, the Chicago Lyric Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Spoleto USA, Central City Opera, Wolf Trap, Opera Memphis and the Utah Opera, according to a press release. He led the American Ballet Theater \nOrchestra (1981--82 season) and conducted Peter Brook's Tony Award-winning "La tragédie de Carmen" on Broadway. He also performed and conducted at venues across the world, from Spain to Hong Kong to Paris.\nBehr's resumé also showed his deep interest in teaching young talent. He served as a resident conductor of Marilyn Horne's Music Academy of the West, and was the music director of the Julliard Opera Center. \n"He was a natural born teacher," Levy said.\nServices for Behr, who resided in Carmel Valley, Calif., were unknown at press time. \n"He had a really stellar career. He had conducted a number of operas at IU and we were delighted to have him," said Alain Barker, director of marketing and publicity for the IU School of Music. "We're very sad this has happened"