Obituary of Mario Bernardi

Mario Bernardi, C.C. August 20, 1930 - June 2, 2013 Beloved husband of Mona Kelly, cherished father to Julia Purdy and her husband Sandy and adoring grandfather to Thomas and Matthew. Predeceased by his sister Clara De Angelis and his brother Joseph Bernardi. Mario Bernardi died suddenly of complications from pneumonia in Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Mario was born of Italian parentage in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Showing early signs of musical ability, he was taken to Italy at the age of six to receive a thorough musical education. Because of the Second World War he could not return to Canada until 1947 where he quickly established himself as an outstanding pianist. His studies continued at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. His professional conducting debut took place on February 25, 1957 with the Canadian Opera Company. He conducted many productions with the company, including Hansel and Gretel, Pagliacci, La Boheme, Don Giovanni and Carmen. In 1963 he moved to Sadler's Wells Opera in London (now the English National Opera), where he rapidly acquired a reputation as a notable interpreter of Verdi. He served as Music Director of the company from 1966 to 1968, when he returned to Canada to found an orchestra for the newly created National Arts Centre in Ottawa. There he auditioned and trained players to form what is widely acknowledged as one of the best chamber orchestras in the world. Mario remained at the NAC until 1982, conducting not only classical and baroque repertoire, but also commissioning works by many Canadian composers. For those activities he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1972 and Conductor Laureate to the orchestra. He is particularly remembered for his conducting of Mozart. A major achievement of this period was the establishment of an International Summer Opera Festival. From 1983 to 2003 he was Principal Conductor of the CBC Vancouver Orchestra (later renamed the CBC Radio Orchestra), where he programmed both mainstream and contemporary works. In 1984, he was named Music Director of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he held until 1993 when he became their Conductor Laureate. During this time he also conducted operas at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera and Lyric Opera, Chicago, as well as opera companies in Vancouver, Calgary, Hamilton and Montreal. His final performances were, appropriately, of Mozart's le Nozze di Figaro and Cosi fan Tutte with students of the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Mario's conducting was characterized by a unique blend of lucidity, warmth and joyousness. His interpretations were immediately recognizable for their rhythmic and intellectual vigour. His brilliant and remarkable career was curtailed by a series of strokes. As a mark of affection and respect, the National Arts Centre Wind Quintet journeyed to Toronto last summer to perform a concert in his honour. In celebration of his life's work, a bronze bust of him by Ruth Abernethy will be unveiled at the National Arts Centre on Monday, July 1 at 12 noon. The Centre has also commissioned a new composition by Ana Sokolovic in his honour to be performed at a later date. We have lost a great conductor and a great Canadian. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES CHAPEL LIMITED, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 6. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in ST. ANSELM CHURCH, 1 MacNaughton Road (at Millwood Road) on Friday, June 7 at 3:00 p.m. A reception will follow in the Rosedale Room of the funeral home. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.