Edwin McArthur, Accompanist, Conductor, Coach and My Friend
It was Christmas Day dinner 1983 in my apartment in Elmhurst, Queens. Among those at the table were my friends Jon, Greg, Edwin McArthur and his wife, Peggy. The dinner conversation flowed between multiple subjects including church music of the season, politics and the weather. Once those subjects faded into eating the main course and dessert, Edwin began to hold court with his reminiscences of his colorful, storied and many years in the classical music world. We peppered Edwin with questions about famous opera singers of his long career. He knew all of them, had worked with them and had very strong opinions about each and everyone of them. It was either 1981 or 1982 when my friend Jon introduced me to Edwin. He insisted that we would hit it off and I would enjoy hearing Edwin’s stories. Jon was right. Edwin arrived in New York City in the late 1920s. He was the son of a Colorado minister....