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Kurt Klippstatter, an internationally known conductor, opera director, vocal coach, pianist and music educator, died suddenly on Tuesday (Jan. 4 [2000]) in Indianapolis.
Mr. Klippstatter, 65, recently joined the opera faculty of Northwestern University, where his wife and colleague of 28 years, noted mezzo-soprano Mignon Dunn, has been a member of the voice faculty for a number of years.
They have resided both in Highland Park, Ill., and New York City.
In a career that spanned over 40 years, Mr. Klippstatter was involved with opera and orchestral programs in both Europe and North America.
Born in Graz, Austria, he was a conductor and coach at opera houses in Germany and Austria for 15 years before coming to the United States to become artistic director of the Memphis Opera Theater in 1972.
He was credited with elevating that company to a position within the top 25 opera companies in the United States.
He later served as director of orchestral activities at the University of Hartford School of Music, artistic director of the Arkansas Symphony and music director of the Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra, as well as guest conductor of the New York City Opera and the National Opera "Bellas Artes" in Mexico City.
In 1990, he became director of the Illinois Opera Theater at the University of Illinois School of Music at Urbana-Champaign, a position he held until last year. Mr. Klippstatter was highly acclaimed for his dedicated work with young singers.
He and his wife participated as faculty members of a number of different summer programs for young vocal artists in the United States and abroad, including the Israel Vocal Arts Institute, the International Institute for Vocal Arts and the American Institute for Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Klippstatter is survived by his sister, Hannelore Muik of Graz, Austria.
Memorial services will be held in New York City and on the campus of Northwestern.
