Oscar Spirescu

Romanian conductor, composer and pianist. Emigrated to US around 1913-1914 ✰ 1874, București, România ✞ September 7, 1918, Manhattan, New York, USA, committing suicide (chloroform poisoning) Graduate of Paris Conservatoire and school friend with Raymond Charpentier, George Enescu and other celebrities. Returning to București on his graduation, was appointed leader of the court orchestra. Later was musical director and manager of Romanian Opera, conductor of “Orchestra Operei Române”, “Orchestra Teatrului Comoedia” First came to US as conductor of 'The Boston Opera Company' for 2 years to resume his position with the 'București National Theatre' Returning to US as conductor of 'Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra' Was also musical director and manager at Strand Theatre and conductor of “Strand Symphony Orchestra” 1916 - 1918 (his death) musical director and manager at Manhattan Opera House Was married in România and had four children. In US married for a second time He took his own life on September 7, 1918, with chloroform in his apartment in Manhattan Was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY March 24, 1901, Băneasa, Bucharest - Oscar Spirescu (conductor of “Orchestra Operei Române” at that time) fought in a Sword Duel with Onofrei (Opera Română manager/impresar) due to an argue and a violent polemics in press. Onofrei is injured in the right forearm in the fourth half, when the fight was stopped