Soprano Virginia Oosthuizen has died at the age of 90 in Cape Town, South Africa. The soprano was one of South Africa’s most distinguished operatic sopranos whose career spanned several decades. Born in 1933 in Stellenbosch, Oosthuizen studied singing under Margaret Wandelt at the Stellenbosch Conservatoire and furthered her vocal studies with Maria Hittorff in Vienna. She made her European {…}
On August 12 2024 German Opera Director Christof Nel died at the age of 80. Born on April 7, 1944, in Stuttgart, Nel’s parents were both musicians. He went on to study art history and theatre in Munich and began his theater career as an actor working with Peter Stein. In 1970, he began directing. His first plays were produced {…}
On August 10, 2024, Italian soprano Celestina Casapietra died at the age of 85 in Genoa, Italy. Born in Genoa on August 23, 1938, Casapietra made her debut at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan in 1963 and later made her Berlin State Opera debut in 1965. In Berlin, she went on to sing many leading roles including Donna Anna in {…}
Scenographer Marco Bartolo passed away on July 22, 2024. The Teatru Manoel announced the news stating, “It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of our colleague and friend, Marco who passed away today, 22nd July 2024. Marco was a professional scenographer and his contribution towards the theatre over so many years was {…}
On August 11, 2024, Steve Davislim died at 57. Born in 1967 in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, his father David Lim was of Chinese ancestry, and his mother Joyce Davis was Irish. The father moved to Australia, firstly to Tasmania, then to Melbourne. He first started studying music as a horn player in brass groups and orchestras and eventually obtained {…}
On August 3, 2024, American mezzo-soprano Dorothy Krebill died at the age of 94 in Santa Fe. Born on Feb. 3, 1930, to a Mennonite family in Lee County, Iowa, Karayanis attended the State University of Iowa. There, she studied voice and piano. She later went on to study at Curtis, where she received her graduate diploma in vocal studies. {…}
Romanian soprano Sanda Şandru has died at the age of 85. Born on July 15, 1938, Șandru began her musical studies in Timișoara and went on to study in Bucharest at the “Ciprian Porumbescu” Conservatory. She became a soloist at the Bucharest National Opera, debuting in the role of Leonora in “Il Trovatore.” Her career took her to some of {…}
Maestro Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez has died at the age of 74. The Spanish conductor was born on Sept. 17, 1949 to a family of musicians, his father was a professor in the Band of Granada, and his mother a pianist. As a child, he wanted to become a conductor and started to study music at the age of four. {…}
On August 2, 2024, Bass-baritone Alfred Kuhn died at 86. Born in Ober-Roden/Hesse, Kuhn studied singing at the Frankfurt am Main University of Music. In 1963, he sang his first engagement in Darmstadt and remained a member of the ensemble for 15 years. In 1978, he became a member of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein for five years. Then from {…}
Bass Carsten Sabrowski has died. Born in Kiel, his family moved to Chile at the age of three and lived there for 10 years. He returned to Germany and studied singing in Hamburg and Berlin. He won the Elise-Meyer Opera and Song contest and in 1992, he made his debut as Masetto in “Don Giovanni” in Dortmund and became an {…}
On July 25, 2024, Baritone Benjamin Luxon died at the age of 87. Considered one of Great Britain’s major international singers, Luxon was born on March 24, 1937 in Redruth, Cornwall and first studied with Walther Gruner at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and later went on to win the third prize in the ARD International Music Competition {…}
