[From Public Affairs, Carnegie Hall]
CARNEGIE HALL MOURNS THE DEATH OF ROBERT HARTH
Mr. Harth Served as Executive and Artistic Director of The
Carnegie Hall Corporation Since 2001
For immediate release: New York, NY, January 31, 2004 - It is
with enormous sadness that Carnegie Hall announces the death of
Robert Harth, its Executive and Artistic Director. Mr. Harth
died of a heart attack at his Manhattan home on Friday evening,
January 30. Mr. Harth was 47 years of age. Plans for Carnegie
Hall to commemorate Mr. Harth's life and legacy will be announced
at a later date. He is survived by his parents Sidney Harth and
Teresa Testa Harth; sister Laura Harth Rodriguez, brother-in-law
Francisco Rodriguez and nephew Alexander H. Rodriguez; companion
Stacey Buck; son Jeffrey Curtis and former wife Melanie Harth.
Sanford I. Weill, Chairman of Carnegie Hall's Board of Trustees,
said, "The tragic death of Robert Harth is a great loss for
Carnegie Hall as well as for me personally. During the time
that Robert was at Carnegie Hall, he quickly became a force that
symbolized and embodied the spirit of this great institution.
He was a sensitive leader, dearly beloved by the staff and the
entire Carnegie Hall family. He constructed a compelling vision
for Carnegie Hall's future, and it is tragic that he will not
be able to see his dreams carried forward. Today marks a time
of profound grief for the Carnegie Hall board of trustees, the
staff, artists, and for me personally."
Robert Harth was named Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie
Hall in March 2001 and assumed that position in September 2001.
Mr. Harth oversaw the management of all aspects of the world-
renowned concert venue, including strategic and artistic planning,
resource development, education, finance, and administration.
Mr. Harth was also responsible for developing the artistic
concept and the management of Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall's new
644-seat state- of-the-art performance space, as well as overseeing
the new Weill Music Institute for education.
The son of conductor-violinist Sidney Harth and violinist Teresa
Testa Harth, Mr. Harth was a trained violinist, flutist, and
composer and graduated from Northwestern University with a
bachelor's degree in English literature. He began his career
at the Ravinia Festival in 1975 as Production Manager and was
later named Associate Manager, a post he held until 1979. For
the next 10 years, Mr. Harth served as Vice President and General
Manager of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he was also
responsible for the management of the Hollywood Bowl.
He became President and CEO of the Aspen Music Festival and
School in 1989 and during his 12-year tenure was credited with
successfully mounting and completing two capital campaigns,
executing two five-year plans, and overseeing the building of
the Benedict Music Tent and Harris Concert Hall, one of the most
highly acclaimed new concert halls built in the past 10 years.
Mr. Harth's additional accomplishments at Aspen included the
appointment of David Zinman as Music Director and, with Mr.
Zinman, the creation of the American Academy of Conducting, a
training program for conductors. In 1999, Mr. Harth spearheaded
Aspen's 50th anniversary celebration, which generated international
attention and resulted in the return of numerous notable alumni.
Mr. Harth was a board member of the American Symphony Orchestra
League and an honorary trustee of the Aspen Music Festival and
School. He was a member of the European Concert Hall Organization
(ECHO), the advisory board of Carnegie Mellon's School of Music,
and the Board of Overseers of The Curtis Institute of Music. He
also served on the visiting committee for the University of Texas
at Austin School of Music. In May 2003, Mr. Harth was awarded an
Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Janos Gereben/SF
www.sfcv.org
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