Musician known for his radical reinvention of the operatic form passed away yesterday, according to reports

The experimental composer Robert Ashley has died, aged 83.

Kyle Gann, who recently wrote a biography on the composer, wrote on his website that he had received confirmation of the composer’s death. Ashley had been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver last June. He died on 3 March at approximately 1:30pm.

“Bob was one of the most amazing composers of the 20th century, and the greatest genius of 20th-century opera,” Gann writes. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take the world to recognize that.”

As well as being known for his radical reinvention of the operatic form, fusing electronic music into his operas and theatre works, Ashley also co-founded the Cooperative Studio for Electronic Music in 1958 alongside Gordon Mumma, before creating the performing arts event ONCE Festival in the 60s. He won the John Cage Award for Music from the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts in 2002.

According to Gann’s blogpost, Ashley completed a piece before he died entitled Mixed Blessings, Indiana.

