Stephen Oliver, 42; Opera Composer
Stephen Oliver, a composer of operas and soundtracks better known in his native England than in this country, has died in London.
A spokesman for Novello & Co., his publisher, said last week that he was 42 when he died April 29 of the complications of AIDS.
Oliver is probably best known in the United States for the music he composed for the British production of Charles Dickens’ “Nicholas Nickleby” which came to America in 1981 and was later televised.
He also wrote theme music for the British Broadcasting Corp.’s presentation of Shakespearean plays and complete scores for 10 of those productions.
Two of his operas, “The Duchess of Malfi” and “Beauty and the Beast,” were seen in 1978 in Santa Fe, N.M., and 1984 in St. Louis, respectively.
His last work was believed to be a two-act opera based on Shakespeare’s “Timon of Athens.” It had its premiere last June at the English National Opera.
Survivors include his parents.
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