(Credit: Theater Bremen) On Jan 12, 2025, General Intendant of Theater Bremen Michael Börgerding died at the age of 64. He died of a serious illness. Born in Lohne/Oldenburg in 1960, Börgerding studied German, sociology, and philosophy at the University of Göttingen. He became a dramaturg and director at the Junges Theater Göttingen and later worked as a dramaturg at {…}
Romanian soprano Dorina Cheşei has died. The Bucharest National Opera announced the news via social media and said, “With deep regret, we announce the passing of soprano Dorina Cheşei. We are parting with an exceptional voice and a soul dedicated to the lyrical art, a graduate of the Music Academy in Bucharest and formed under the guidance of the great {…}
Renowned director Otto Schenk has passed away. He was 94. Born in Vienna, Schenk studied acting at the Max Reinhardt Seminar and then commenced his career at the Theater in der Josefstadt and Wiener Volkstheater. He shifted into directing in 1953, his first projects taking place at the Burgtheater, Munich Kammerspiele, and Salzburg Festival. In 1957, he directed “The Magic {…}
Polish opera singer Andrzej Klimczak has died in Warsaw after a long illness at 65. The Polish Royal Opera, which served as director and co-founded announced the news stating, “It is with great sorrow that we bid farewell to Andrzej Klimczak – co-founder of the Polish Royal Opera, its general manager from 2019 to 2024, singer and director, but for {…}
Teatro Colón has announced that Scenic Director Enrique Bordolini has died. He was 75. The company said, “It is with deep pain that we communicate the sad news of the death of Enrique Bordolini, stage director of the Teatro Colón. Master of stage and theater lighting, trained at the Superior Art Institute of Columbus Theater, marked fundamental milestones in the {…}
On Dec. 23, 2024 mezzo-soprano Regina Sarfaty died at the 90. Born in November 1934 in Rochester, New York, Sarfaty grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and went on to win the Margaret McGill Scholarship to The Juilliard School. She began studying at Juilliard in 1952 and graduated five years later with a Bachelor of Music. As a young singer, {…}
On Dec. 30, 2024, American soprano Loretta Di Franco has died at the age of 82. Born in New York, Di Franco began her career as a Met’s opera chorus member and eventually got promoted to singing small comprimario roles. In 1961, she sang her first comprimario role as one of the pages in Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” and the peasant girl {…}
Mezzo-soprano Maria Jonas has died. Ars Choralis Coeln announced the news via social media stating, “With dismay, great dismay and deep sorrow we announce the sudden and unexpected death of our ensemble director, friend and mentor Maria Jonas. She was the center and heart of Ars Choralis Coeln and we can’t quite comprehend it at the moment. We tried to {…}
Mezzo-soprano Elsbeth Gerritsen ahas died at the age of 53. Gerritsen studied musicology at Utrecht University and later made her doctoral studies at the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music. There she studied with Margreet Honig. She went on to perform with the Nederlandse Bachvereniging and became an alto in Quink, a vocal quartet of international renown. She also performed as a soloist {…}
O Dec. 18, 2024, German mezzo and soprano Sigrid Kehl died at the age of 95. Born in Berlin on Nov 23, 1929, Kehl first studied piano, voice, and pedagogy at the Conservatory of Thuringia in Erfurt from 1948 to 1951. She also studied voice and piano at the Berlin University of the Arts until 1956. She went on to {…}
On April 11, 2024, soprano Jeannette Sinclair died at the age of 96. Born on April 11, 1928, Sinclair was born in Camberwell, England, and went on to attend Mary Datchelor Girls’ School. She later studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama followed by opera with Joan Cross and with Helene Isepp. The soprano made her debut in {…}