Conductor and founder of the Malta Philharmonic Joseph Sammut has died at the age of 97. According to reports Sammut died at Mater Dei Hospital on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. In a statement, Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said “Malta had lost one of its ‘musical giants.’ He was the last conductor of the Orchestra of the Commander in Chief of {…}
On March 3, 2024, German baritone Günther Leib died at 96. Born on April 12, 2024 in Gotha, Leib studied violin at the age of seven and continued his studies following World War II at the State Conservatory in Erfurt.He began his career as a violinist in 1949 with the Gotha Municipal Orchestra but eventually obtained an interest in opera {…}
(Credit: © Harry Groner) On April 4, 2024, German baritone Gerd Feldhoff died at the age of 92. Born on Oct. 29, 1931, in Cologne, he went on to study at the North West Music Academy in Detmold. He made his debut in Essen in 1959 as Figaro in “Le nozze di Figaro” and went on to perform with the {…}
On March 30, conductor Orval Ries died at the age of 86. Born in Toronto, Canada, Ries began his musical career as a vocal soloist and later started performing as an oboist both as an orchestral player and soloist. He would graduate from the University of Toronto and later continue his studies in London and Paris. In 1959, Ries became {…}
English Baritone Nicholas Folwell has died. Throughout his career, Folwell sang over 130 roles from a diverse repertoire of composers such as Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, and Wagner. He also sang in many world premieres. One of his greatest roles was Alberich in Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen,” which he performed at such houses as Opéra d’Angers-Nantes, Den Nye Opera, Opéra de Dijon, {…}
English Mezzo-soprano Caire Powell has died. Born in 1954, Powell won the Richard Tauber memorial prize 1978 nd made her début at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1978 as the second lady in “Die Zauberflöte.” She went on to sing numerous roles with the company including Giunone in “Il Ritorno D’Ulisse,” Mrs Meg Page in “Falstaff,” Hippolyta in “A Midsummer Night’s {…}
On March 14, 2024, French pianist and conductor Jean-Pierre Marty died at the age of 91. Born on Oct. 12, 1932, Marty studied with Alfred Cortot and Julius Katchen. His career as a pianist began at the age of 13 and became the accompanist for cellist Pierre Fournier. Then he went on to make a solo career performing several piano {…}
Soprano Margaret Curphey has died at the age of 86. Born in 1938 on the Isle of Man, Curphey studied for many years with local singing teacher Douglas Buxton. After she obtained the Manx Music Festival Cleveland Gold Medal and the Blackpool Rose Bowl, she decided to study at the Birmingham School of Music with John Carol Case and David {…}
On March 24, Péter Eötvös died at the age of 80. The Hungarian State Opera announced the news via social media and said, “Péter Szent István Order of Eötvös, who has endured a long-term illness, died at the age of 80, was a two-time Kossuth Prize-winning composer, conductor, music educator, outstanding figure of Hungarian and international contemporary music. The statement {…}
(Credits: Anita Watkins) On March 13, Opera Director Michael Cavanagh died at the age of 62 of leptomeningeal cancer. Born in Winnipeg, Canada, Cavanagh was encouraged by his musical parents to sing in church and school choirs and eventually join the children’s chorus at Manitoba Opera. He would continue to sing throughout his teens and in his 20s sang in {…}
Soprano Margaret Tynes died at the age of 104 on March 8 2024. Born on Sept. 11, 1919 in Saluda Virginia, Tynes was discovered to be a childhood prodigy at the age of six when she won her first award of $500 against adults at the time. She won her second award, also against adults, at the age of 12 {…}