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Anton CoppolaAmerican opera conductor and composer
Date of Birth: 21.03.1917
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Anton Coppola
- Early Career
- Education and Honors
- Personal Life
- Notable Works and Achievements
- Current Work
Biography of Anton Coppola
Anton Coppola, an American opera conductor and composer, was born on March 21, 1917, in New York City. He comes from a musical family, with his older brother, Carmine Coppola, being a renowned composer and flutist. Anton is the uncle of film director Francis Ford Coppola, actress Talia Shire, and is the great-grandfather of Nicolas Cage, Sofia Coppola, Gian-Carlo Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, and Robert Coppola Schwartzman.
Early Career
Anton Coppola began his career at the age of eight as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus. During World War II, he served in the army and became the conductor of a military orchestra. After the war, he worked as a conductor at the Radio City Music Hall and led the symphonic and opera departments at the Manhattan School of Music.
Education and Honors
Coppola studied at the Manhattan School of Music, earning a Bachelor's degree in 1964 and a Master's degree in composition in 1935. He was awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Tampa and Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Although he did not pursue a doctoral degree, Coppola was recognized for his contributions to music.
Personal Life
In his first marriage, Anton was married to ballet dancer Marion Jane Miller. They had a daughter named Susan Marion Coppola, who passed away in 2008. After their divorce, Coppola married Almarinda Drago, also a ballet dancer, and they had two children together, Lucia and Bruno Coppola.
Notable Works and Achievements
Anton Coppola is known for composing a violin concerto, a symphony, and the opera "Sacco and Vanzetti," which tells the story of Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. He also served as the musical director for several Broadway musicals in the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1963, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical Director for the Broadway production of "Bravo Giovanni." Coppola has also worked as a conductor on film soundtracks, including "Dracula" (1992) and "The Godfather Part III" (1992). He conducted the production of "Cavalleria Rusticana" at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo and made his debut at the New York City Opera in 1965.
In 1970, he conducted the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd's opera "Of Mice and Men" at the Seattle Opera. Coppola collaborated with the Royal Opera Orchestra and Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu on recordings of Giacomo Puccini's works. He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Puccini Foundation and the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
Current Work
Despite his advanced age, Anton Coppola continues to work in the field of opera, currently serving at Opera Tampa.
