The Royal Ballet & Opera has announced the death of David Gowland, who passed away on August 9, 2026 after a long battle with cancer. In a statement, the company said, “The Royal Opera is deeply saddened to hear of the death of David Gowland, Artistic Director of the Jette Parker Artists Programme, at the age of 63. As the {…}
Legendary Conductor Bruno Campanella has died at the age of 83. Born on Jan. 6, 1943 in Bari, Italy, Campanella studied composition under Nino Rota and Luigi Dallapiccola and came to fame in the late 1970s becoming known as a specialist in Bel Canto. His repertoire also included works by Maurice Ravel, Igor Stravinsky, Nino Rota, and Giuseppe Verdi. Throughout {…}
German conductor Volker Schmidt-Gertenbach has died at the age of 84. Born on Dec. 28, 1941, Schmidt-Gertenbach received his first violin and piano lessons at the age of six and after graduating from high school, he began to study music and mathematics. He gained his first orchestral experience with a student orchestra he founded in Göttingen and later studied with {…}
Italian baritone Angelo Romero has died at the age of 86 years old. Romero made his operatic debut in 1966 with Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo.” He eventually broke out in the role of Figaro in “The Barber of Seville” which became one of his signature roles. He went on to perform the work 600 times between rehearsals and performances. That led him {…}
On July 13, 2026, Pedro Ignacio Calderón died at the age of 92. His death was announced by the Argentine Secretary of Culture, Leonardo Cifelli. Born in Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina, on Dec. 31, 1933, Calderón enrolled in music lessons by his mother at the age of seven and at 13 went to Buenos Aires and began studying at the {…}
On July 12 2026, Dr. George Jimmy Zack died at the age of 90. Born on July 8, 1936, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Zack received a Bachelor of Music at Wichita State University in 1958 focusing on theory and composition and graduating cum laude. He completed a Master of Music at the University of Michigan in 1960 studying theory and {…}
The Florentine Opera has announced the death of Donald Baumgartner. The company said, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Donald Baumgartner, one of Milwaukee’s greatest champions of the arts and a foundational pillar of the Florentine Opera family. ” Baumgartner served the company as a dedicated board leader and Life Director and in 2017, he and his wife, {…}
On July 10, Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre’s Artistic Director Jamie J. Offenbach passed away after a private battle with cancer. The Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre’s Board President shared a statement saying, “We have lost a brilliant colleague, a generous mentor, a creative showman, and a dear friend. Jamie carried within him a rare constellation of gifts—talent, energy, vision, humor, and warmth. His {…}
On July 8, 2026, Czech baritone Martin Matoušek has died at the age of 53. According to Opera Plus the baritone died of an aortic rupture. Born on Feb. 21, 1973, Matoušek began studying clarinet, piano, and saxophone at the Army School of Music and in 1991 began studying voice at the Prague Conservatory. He continued his studies from 1996 {…}
The board and staff of Opera Canada has announced the passing of Rob Herriot on July 3 at 60 years old. Herriot was well-known across North America for his work in both opera and musical theatre. Throughout his career he had a long relationship with both Nuova and Manitoba Opera and directed such operas as “Così fan tutte” at Vancouver Opera {…}
Opera singer Margaret Kingsley has died at the age of 87. Born Cornwall, Kingsley studied in London at the Royal College of Music, and later joined the chorus at Glyndebourne. At Glyndeborune she made her debut as a soloist in 1966 as the First Lady in “Die Zauberflöte” and later went on to sing Donn Elvira and Lady Macbeth. She later {…}
