Marvin David Levy

Marvin David Levy (August 2, 1932 – February 9, 2015) was an American composer, best known for his opera Mourning Becomes Electra.

Marvin David Levy (1959)
Photo by Carl Van Vechten

Mourning Becomes Electra was given its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in 1967. Although deemed a failure at the time, the work was revived in 1998 in a revised version by the composer to a triumphant success at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.^[1][2] The New York City Opera and the Seattle Opera staged the work in 2003, and the Florida Grand Opera staged the opera in 2013.^[3]

A disc featuring Canto de los Marranos (Song of the Marranos) and excerpts from Shir Shel Moshe (Song of Moses) was issued as part of the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music by Naxos in 2004. ^{[citation needed]}

The Passaic, New Jersey-born^[4] Levy died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 9, 2015, aged 82.^[5][6]

References

1. Anthony Tommasini, "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; Tough Opera For Tough Times", The New York Times, January 1, 2003.
2. Anthony Tommasini, "OPERA REVIEW; Restoring Luster to a Dark Melodrama", The New York Times, October 13, 1998.
3. William Littler (December 13, 2013). "Rayanne Dupuis' acting shines in Mourning becomes Electra". Toronto Star.
4. Encyclopedia.com (subscription required)
5. Notice of death of Levy, newyorkclassicalreview.com; accessed February 10, 2015.
6. Margalit Fox, "Marvin David Levy, Composer Who Rose, Fell and Rose Again, Dies at 82", The New York Times, February 15, 2015.

Further reading

• Biography at the Milken Archive by Neil W. Levin
• Interview with Marvin David Levy, October 13, 1987