South African singer-turned-director Patricia Panton died at the age of 89.

Born in Johannesburg, Panton originally studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan and received a diploma in classical singing.

She went on to perform around Europe but eventually opted to move into directing operas.

Panton first worked as assistant of director Margarete Wallmann for 12 years at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Royal Opera House, and Paris Opera. She then went on to direct productions at the Théâtre du Capitole, Marseille Opera, Teatro Regio di Torino, Puccini Festival, Palm Beach Opera, Grand Rapids Opera, and Green National Opera.

Among the operas she directed were “Un ballo in maschera,”  “La traviata,” “Nabucco,” “Otello,” and “Carmen.”

Throughout her career she collaborated with Placido Domingo, Seiji Ozawa, Montserrat Caballé, Katia Ricciarelli, Raina Kabaivanska and Roberto Alagna and was the director and producer at the Monte Carlo Opera for several years.