ALBERT ROSEN, who died yesterday aged 73 after a short illness, had an association with the arts in Ireland spanning 32 years.
The Viennese born conductor first came to the Wexford Festival in 1965 to conduct the RTE Symphony Orchestra in Massenet's Don Quichotte. That success assured him of further invitations to the annual event. He conducted an opera in Wexford 17 times in what became an intrinsic part of his Irish repertoire. The Wexford Festival chief executive, Mr Jerome Hynes, said yesterday that Mr Rosen was an integral part of the cent's development and success.
As a conductor, his training was in opera. He was born of Austrian and Czech parentage. The family moved to Prague while he was a boy and his talent, while studying composition and piano, was noticed at the Prague Conservatory.
He was resident conductor of the Prague National Opera, the director of the Smetana Opera in that city, and principal conductor of the RTE Symphony Orchestra from 1968 to 1981. Afterwards, he remained as principal guest conductor and also worked with the National Youth Orchestra. In 1994, he received the title Conductor Laureate from RTE.
He combined his work in Ireland, and a house in Dublin, with extensive international experience - as principal conductor of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and directing opera in New Zealand, the US, Canada and Europe. His last appearance with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland was at the National Concert Hall last New Year's Eve.
A musician who performed under Mr Rosen for 28 years said yesterday that he was absolutely his own person in musical terms, a product of the opera tradition and a throwback to the 19th century in the individuality he brought to his music.
He had been due to conduct the last performance of the RTE/Bank of Ireland Proms tonight.