On April 30, 2026, baritone Ryan Edwards died at the age of 84. Edwards was a leading Metropolitan Opera artist who performed with the company 50 times making his debut in 1976 in “Lucia di Lammermoor” as Enrico and singing his final performance in 1986 as Escamillo in “Carmen.” With the company he sang in productions of “Don Carlo,” “Ernani,” {…}
Mezzo-soprano Batyah Godfrey Ben-David has died at the age of 85. Ben-David is best-known for having performed at the Metropolitan Opera having made her debut on Feb. 17, 1969 and performing 595 performances until April 16, 1988. She went on to appear on multiple recordings at the Met, including “Idomeneo” with Pavarotti, “Rigoletto” with Placido Domingo, “Lulu” with Julia Migenes, {…}
Soprano Khayakazi Madlala has died at the age of 32. The soprano died on May 5 after a short illness. Cape Town Opera was the first to announce the news and said, “We are heartbroken by the unexpected passing of our beloved colleague, Khayakazi Madlala. Our thoughts go out to her family and loved ones during this difficult time.” Born {…}
On April 27, leading South African soprano Mimi Coertse died at the age of 93. Born Maria Sophia Coertse on June 12, 1932 in Durban, Coertse matriculated at the Helpmekaar Girls High School in Johannesburg and began vocal studies in South Africa in 1949. She made her debut in South Africa singing Händel’s “Messiah” at the Johannesburg City Hall in {…}
Conductor Leon Lovett has passed away. He was 91. Lovett studied music in Cambridge. Early in his career, he became the Assistant Conductor of the Scottish National Orchestra, and also conducted the Scottish Opera. In 1950, he co-founded the New Opera Company at Sadler’s Wells with Peter Hemmings and Brian Trowell. As Music Director of the New Opera Company, he {…}
Michael Tilson Thomas has died at the age of 81. The conductor died at home on April 22, 2026 surrounded by family and friends. In 2021, he was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, an aggressive type of brain cancer. Through his illness he continued to make music. He was preceded in death by his husband Joshua Robison. Born in Los Angeles {…}
Conductor Víctor Eloy López Cerezo has died at the age of 43. According to reports, the conductor died in his hometown in Malaga due to cancer he had been battling for a year. Born in Malaga, the conductor went on to study Music History and Sciences and obtained a diploma in Musical Teaching, a Master in Spanish Musical Heritage and {…}
Petro Pryimak, soloist of the National Opera of Ukraine, has died at the age of 57. An honored artist and teacher, Pryimak’s death was announced by Anatoliy Solovyanenko , the chief director of the National Opera, on Facebook. Born in the Ternopil region, Pryimak was a graduate from the Kyiv Conservatory and was a soloist of the National Opera of {…}
On March 23, 2026, tenor Janusz Ratajczak died at the age of 64 after a car accident. Born in 1962 in Poland, Ratajczak graduated from the Mechanical Technical School in Szczecinek and sang in the De Profundis Choir, where he met his wife. After graduating from high school, Ratajczak went on to study at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz {…}
Rainelle Krause has died after a short hospitalization. Her family announced the news in a statement that said, “With immense sadness, we share that Rainelle has passed away following a short hospitalization. Rainelle was a force in our lives, a brilliant talent defined by grit, fearlessness, curiosity, intelligence, integrity, and resilience. Onstage, her voice matched the breathtaking power of her {…}
Willie Anthony Waters has died at the age of 74. Born in 1951 in Miami, Florida, Willie Anthony Waters studied at the University of Miami and Memphis State University. He went on to make his conducting debut 1979 when he conducted the Utah Symphony. From there, Waters made a career in opera and broke glass ceilings becoming the first African American {…}