Edwin McArthur [SEP] date of death
Edwin McArthur
Edwin McArthur (24 September 190724 February 1987) was an American classical music conductor, pianist and accompanist. From 1935 until his retirement in 1955 he was the usual accompanist of the Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad.
Life and career.
McArthur was born in Denver, Colorado and, having begun work as a professional pianist, studied piano at the Juilliard School and moved to New York as a music teacher and organist. He was married to his wife Blanche in 1930. He applied for a post to play
Flagstad's husband Henry Johansen who finally brought the two together to make peace. Flagstad also feuded with the Met's general manager, Edward Johnson, after conductor Artur Bodanzky's death, when she asked to be conducted for a few performances by her accompanist, Edwin McArthur, rather than by the Met's new conductor Erich Leinsdorf. Flagstad had wanted this for McArthur, whom she had taken under her wing. Johnson refused and would not hear of it any further. Flagstad did get her way, though; she went over