In Remembrance

With heavy hearts, Des Moines Metro Opera shares the loss of our beloved Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus, Robert L. Larsen. He passed away peacefully in Indianola on Sunday, March 21, 2021. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and former students at this time of immense sorrow.

Visionary conductor and stage director Robert Larsen was born in Walnut, Iowa, in 1934. Against the backdrop of that rural Iowa community, he developed an unlikely interest in opera. Early in his career, he declined an offer from the Metropolitan Opera in order to remain in his home state to share his love for music and theatre with his fellow Iowans. Dr. Larsen believed that quality performances of great music should not exist exclusively in America’s largest cities, but could belong to everyone. With that in mind, in March of 1973 and with little time to spare, he selected opera titles, hired singers, formed a board of directors and raised $22,000 to launch Des Moines Metro Opera just a few months later on June 22, 1973. That first season, professional singers worked alongside his students to create something out of nothing via sheer determination and loyalty to their beloved leader. Larsen served as Conductor and Stage Director for every one of the nearly 120 productions for the Company’s first 38 seasons – an unparalleled accomplishment in American music. He worked and collaborated with more than a thousand singers, orchestra musicians, designers, technicians, and he motivated colleagues to reach the peak of their own capabilities. Today as the company he founded approaches its 50^th Anniversary Season, he remained immensely proud of its next generation and the Company's continued success following his retirement in 2009.

His love of Iowa and great music was boundless. Nothing delighted him more than great singing and marvelous young voices. His passion for music-making inspired all those who had the opportunity to work alongside him including artists, colleagues, students and members of the community. He instilled in them the same awe and wonder that surrounded his earliest memories of music and the joys of his life. The strength of his vision to bring quality opera performances to Iowa brought thousands of people to this magnificent art form, forever changing the lives of so many. He will live on in our hearts forever.

Read Dr. Larsen's Obituary

Memorial Services
Visitations will be held on Friday, March 26, from 3-8pm at the Overton Funeral Home in Indianola and on Saturday, March 27, from 9:00-10:30am at the First Presbyterian Church in Walnut, IA. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, no public graveside service is planned. When it is safe to do so, Des Moines Metro Opera will host a Memorial Concert to celebrate this extraordinary life. Further details will be available at a later date.

Memorial
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Robert L. Larsen Scenic Fund at the Des Moines Metro Opera Foundation, which provides annual funding to support the design and construction of new scenery and original productions each season.

Make a Memorial Contribution

Godspeed, Dr. Larsen. A piece of my heart goes with you. The memories and experiences he gave to me from singing in La Boheme as a 6th grader, casting me as Cis in Albert Herring in the inaugural season of DMMO when I was just 13, singing in the chorus of DMMO as a high school student, and then as an apprentice and Opera Iowa Artist were indelible and instrumental in my pursuing degrees in Music and Opera as well as other professional opportunities as a singer. I have always counted myself so very fortunate to have grown up in...

– Marilyn Pierce

Dr. Larsen was one of the greatest educators I had had the privilege to learn from and I am so grateful that I had the chance to have known him. Even though I was horrible at piano and was more interested in other genres of music, he encouraged me and took me on as one of his piano students when I was a freshman at Simpson. Although I wasn't the best pianist, he didn't give up on me and pushed me to work even harder at getting better to further my study of music. I'm sure my stories of him...

– LewElla Riker

I am so saddened to hear of Robert Larsen's passing. He was such a wonderful, supportive influence in my life as an opera singer. I was at DMMO in 1993, 1994, 1995. He initially brought me to Iowa to do the title role in Regina, then Ulrica in Ballo, and finally, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd. I loved working with Robert. He was one of those rare directors who hires talent, gives them basic blocking, and then lets them use their unique talents to create a role and shine. He influenced hundreds of singers and his apprentice program was coveted....

– Sally Williams

I am saddened upon hearing the news of Bob's passing. I knew him for more the 35 years long before I became the Des Moines Symphony conductor. He was present at the commencement ceremony at Simpson College in the Summer of 1987, the year I received an honorary Doctor of Music degree. My parents were able to attend and he could not have been nicer to them. Several years later, he was the first one I called about the opening at the Des Moines Symphony. He was very helpful sharing his thoughts about Central Iowa and the potential of growing...

– Maestro Joseph Giunta

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