Colin Graham, 75; longtime artistic director of St. Louis opera

Colin Graham, the artistic director of the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, died Friday of respiratory and cardiac arrest at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis. He was 75.

During his 29 years in St. Louis, Graham staged 48 new productions, according to a statement from Charles MacKay, general manager of Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

Graham’s world premiere production of David Carlson’s “Anna Karenina” is scheduled to open April 28 at Florida Grand Opera in Miami and June 3 in St. Louis. Graham’s assistant, Mark Streshinsky, will take over as stage director.

Robert Hansen, director of the National Opera Assn., said that under Graham’s artistic leadership, the Opera Theatre of St. Louis earned a reputation for innovative productions and presentation of new or neglected works.

“I think it’s a significant loss any time we lose someone who is as innovative and successful in promoting opera,” Hansen said.

Graham joined the Opera Theatre of St. Louis in 1978, two years after it was formed. He became artistic director in 1985.

Born in London in 1931, Graham attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. According to an obituary Saturday in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, his first ambition was to be an actor, but that proved unsuccessful. He started his career behind the curtain as an assistant stage manager at the Royal Opera House.

He eventually served as director of productions for the English Opera Group from 1963 to 1975 and became artistic director of its successor, the English Music Theatre. He has staged productions for the Metropolitan, Washington, Minnesota, Omaha, San Diego, San Francisco and New York City operas, as well as the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Opera Pacific in Costa Mesa. He spent 10 seasons working for the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico.

He was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace in 2001, and earned a lifetime achievement award in 2004 from the Texas-based National Opera Assn., which promotes excellence in opera through education.

At Graham’s request, there will be no funeral. MacKay said a memorial service is planned, but a date has not been set.