Kyiv Opera conductor Kostiantyn Starovytskyi has died on the frontlines. The conductor was killed in battle defending his home country from the Russian invasion. Starovytskyi was born on Oct. 30, 1982 in the town of Brovary and graduated from the orchestra department of Ukraine’s National Music Academy. He went on to work with the Kyiv Opera where he staged Gaetano {…}
On April 2, 2023, Legendary Spanish tenor Pedro Lavirgen died at the age of 92. The tenor, who was born in Bujalance, Córdoba on July 31, 1930, started his musical journey at the hospital de Hermanos de San Juan de Dios in Córdoba, where he was part of the chorus and at the parish in Bujalance where he also performed {…}
The classical music world is mourning the loss of James Bowman, a renowned countertenor who passed away on March 27, 2023, at the age of 81. A trailblazer in early music and baroque period practice, Bowman performed at esteemed venues such as the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Paris Opera, and La Scala. Collaborating with the era’s most {…}
Legendary Romanian soprano Virginia Zeani passed away on March 20, 2023. She was 97. The soprano was born in Solovastru and started singing at 13 with Lucia Anghel and Lydia Lipkowska. Following World War II, Zeani emigrated to Italy where she continued her vocal studies in Milan under conductor Antonio Narducci and tenor Aureliano Pertile. She made her professional debut {…}
Photo: Annelies van der Vegt British conductor Kenneth Montgomery OBE, British passed away on March 5, 2023, at the age of 79. Montgomery began his career in 1973, when he was appointed as the music director of the Bournemouth Sinfonietta. He worked with leading orchestras inside and outside the United Kingdom, working extensively with music organizations in the Netherlands. Montgomery {…}
On Jan. 8, Siegfried Kurz died of a long illness at the age of 92. Born on July 18, 1930, in Dresden, Kurz began his musical career as a trumpeter and studied composition with Fidelio F. Finke. He also studied orchestral conducting and trumpet at the Academy of Music and Theatre in his hometown. In 1949, a year before completing {…}
On Feb. 2, 2023, Conductor Caspar Richter died at the age of 78. Born Sept. 16, 1944, in Lübeck, Germany, he went on to be known for “The Magic Mountain” (1982), “Das Jahrhundert der Operette” (1986), and “Elisabeth” (2005). He began his career as Lorin Maazel’s repetiteur in 1968 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and went on to be one {…}
Gramophone Magazine has announced the death of Malcolm Walker, the company’s former Editor. He died at the age of 82. Walker was the son of the distinguished bass Norman Walker and the mezzo and pianist Merle Miller, Malcolm. At an early age he got a job in the classical department of HMV’s flagship London and later worked with John Whittle in {…}
On Feb. 5, 2023, Dr. Stephen L. Gage died at the age of 66. Gage was an Interim Director of Bands at the Indiana State University’s School of Music. Gage began his tenure as Interim Director of Bands at ISU in August 2022 and conducted the Wind Orchestra & Concert Band. He also taught conducting and was part of the {…}
Austrian Composer Conductor Friedrich Cerha has died at the age of 96. Cerha contributed to new music in Austria and was a driving force in the musical life of the country over the past decades. In a statement, Salzburg Festival Artistic Director Markus Hinterhäuser said, “His rank as a composer is entirely uncontested. As a founder of ensembles and champion {…}
Conductor Julian Smith has died at the age of 78. Long associated with the Cardiff Sing of the World Competition, the organization released a statement noting, “we are very much saddened to report the death of Julian Smith, who for many years selected the singers who would take part in our competition, and acted as Music Adviser. His wisdom, support {…}