(Credit: A. Bofill) On . Nov. 18, 2024, Spanish Soprano Enriqueta Tarrés died at the age of 90. Born on March 17, 1934, in Barcelona, Tarrés began her music studies in 1946 at the Conservatorio Municipal de Barcelona and won the Grand Prix International de Canto de Tolosa in 1955. She went on to make her operatic debut as Leonora {…}
American music producer Jay David Saks has died at the age of 79. Born in 1945 in New York City, Saks studied at the Juilliard School and later graduated from Mannes College of Music in 1970. In 1972, he joined Columbia Masterworks and later left in 1974 when he joined RCA Records. Saks went on to win 13 Grammy Awards {…}
Tenor Giuseppe Morino has died at the age of 74. Born on August 18, 1950, Morino made his debut in Gounod’s “Faust” at the Festival des Deux Mondes in Spoleto in 1981. Six years later the tenor broke out at the Rossini Opera Festival as Pilade in “Ermione.” He went on to be recognized for his work in the Bel {…}
On Nov. 12, 2024, Carlo Bergonzi’s son Marco Bergonzi died at the age of 67. The news was announced by his wife Ilaria with the funeral being held on Friday, Nov. 15 at the Chiesa parrocchiale di Vidalenzo. According to Gazzetta di Parma, Marco had been ill for over a year. Born on Jan. 7, 1957, Bergonzi took over his {…}
Mezzo-soprano Sarita Stern has died at the age of 92. Born in 1929, Stern was an influential singer and teacher. She went on to sing such roles as the title role of “Carmen,” Rosina in “The Barber of Seville,” and Suzuki in “Madama Butterfly,” among others. She also performed with the Durban Symphony Orchestra and Cape Town Opera as well as {…}
English soprano Sarah Jane Leonard has died at the age of 71. Born on April 10, 1953, in Winchester, Leonard studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, after which she joined the BBC Singers and the Endymion Ensemble. In 1989, she made her Teatro alla Scala debut in 1989 in the premiere of Manzoni’s “Dr Faustus.” She was {…}
Mezzo-soprano Nuala Willis has died at the age of 83. Born on August 9, 1941, Willis trained and worked as a stage designer and costumer for nearly 10 years before retraining as a singer. She went on to have a performance career, appearing at the Glyndebourne Festival, Opera Integra, Scottish Opera, and Royal Opera House, among others. She performed in {…}
Tenor Leonardo Navarro has died at the age of 38. The Teatro Municipal de Santiago announced the news noting “We deeply regret the passing of opera singer Leonardo Navarro, who with his voice and talent gave life to various opera characters on this and other national and international stages. We share his family and friends’ sorrow. May he rest in {…}
On Oct. 3, 2024, designer Gottfried Pilz died at the age of 80. The Deutsche Oper Berlin announced the news noting that the company “will honor his memory and his work.” Born on Sept. 21, 1944, in Salzburg, Austria, Pilz became a designer for opera and theatre productions and worked at many leading opera houses in the world. During his {…}
On Oct. 6, American baritone Dominic Cossa died at the age of 89. Born in Jessup, Pennsylvania, on May 13, 1935, Cossa studied with Anthony Marlowe in Detroit, Robert Weede in Concord, and Armen Boyajian in New York City. In 1961, he made his New York City Opera debut as Moralès in “Carmen” and followed that up with Sharpless in “Madama Butterfly.” In {…}
On. Sept. 24, 2024, Dr. Robert Berglund died at the age of 94. Born on Feb. 17, 1930, Berglund dedicated his life to music. He studied at the University of Minnesota where he received a BS and MA and later received an Ed.D. from Colorado State College. He began his career assisting conductor Antal Dorati and he prepared choirs for {…}