Lotfi Mansouri, a former general director of the Canadian Opera Company has passed away..

Mansouri died yesterday at the age of 84 after a brief illness with pancreatic cancer.

The Iranian-born Mansouri left his native country to study medicine in California but music won out. He served as stage director of the Zurich Opera between 1960 and 1966. He also directed productions at leading opera houses in Europe and the United States.

He guided the Canadian Opera Company from 1976 to 1988.

Mansouri was the COC s third general director and played a significant role in launching the COC s international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation, and growing the company into the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America.

Mansouri is survived by his wife, Midge and their daughter Dr. Shireen Mansouri.