On Sept. 14, 2025, production designer and art director Gianni Quaranta died at the age of 84. Born in Milan on August 30, 1943, Quaranta was best known for his work in “A Room with a View,” for which he won the Oscar in 1986. He also received Oscar nominations for his work on Verdi’s “La Traviata,” directed by Franco {…}
On Sept. 15, 2025, Harald Serafin died at the age of 93. Born on Dec. 24, 1931, in Lithuania, Serafin’s mother was from Salzburg, and his father was Italian. His parents fled to East Prussia after the Russian occupation of Lithuania in 1939, and in 1944, they escaped the Russians again, joining a refugee trek to Bamberg. Serafin went on {…}
Tenor Dominik Wortig has died at the age of 52. According to his husband, Boris Leisenheimer, Wortig died in an accident. Wortig was born in Germany and began musical training at the age of five. He went on to study church music and then voice with Werner Lechte at the Robert Schumann High School in Düsseldorf. He eventually became a {…}
On Sept. 6, 2025, Christoph von Dohnányi died at the age of 95. Recognized as one of the great conductors of his generation, he died two days before his 96th birthday. Born on Sept. 8, 1929, in Berlin, Germany, he was the grandchild of pianist and composer Ernst von Dohnányi. Throughout his childhood, his father, uncle and other family members {…}
Gabriel Feltz has died at the age of 54. The Belgrade Philharmonic announced the news stating, “With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra informs our colleagues, audiences, and the wide Serbian public of the sudden passing of our beloved Chief Conductor, Gabriel Feltz, on August 29, 2025, at the University Hospital in Essen. His untimely death is {…}
On August 28, 2025, Mexican soprano Lourdes Ambriz died at the age of 64. The soprano died after a battle with cancer. The news was announced by the Ópera de Bellas Artes where Ambriz debuted in 1982 as Olympia in “Les Contes d’Hoffmann.” With the company Ambriz went on to become the company’s Artistic Sub-director and later Artistic Director from {…}
Russian bass Sergei Aleksashkin has died at the age of 74. The Mariinsky Theatre Company announced the news and said “it expresses its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sergei Nikolaevich, his colleagues and friends.” Born on Feb. 20, 1953, Aleksashkin studied at the Saratov Conservatory and later became part of the opera studio of the Teatro {…}
The Metropolitan Opera Chorus member Seth Malkin has died. Malkin became a full-time member of the Metropolitan Opera Chorus in 2005 and had previously performed a wide variety of roles in Opera and Music Theater. He appeared with such companies as The Opera Orchestra of New York, Santa Fe Opera, New Orleans Opera, and the Seattle Opera, where he sang {…}
(Credit: © 2013 Yiorgos Kaplanidis) On July 31, 2025, Legendary director Robert Wilson died at the age of 83 from a short illness. He died at his home in Water Mill, New York. Born in Waco, Texas, Wilson was the son of Loree Velma and D.M. Wilson and had a difficult youth as the gay son of a conservative family. {…}
Conductor Michaele Sparacino has died. Sparacino studied at CUA and went on to sing with the Kennedy Center, singing the title role of Handel’s Judas Maccabeus. He also performed with Washington National Opera, San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, Boston Opera, and Wolf Trap Company. Sparacino was the founder of Opera Bel Canto Washington and specialized in Italian Bel {…}
Bass-baritone Michael Lion has died at the age of 60. Lion initially studied piano but eventually switched to conducting. He graduated from the Nuremberg University of Music and later completed external vocal studies there. Lion made his debut at the Nuremberg State Theater where he performed his first roles as the First Soldier in Strauss’ “Salome,” Meister Ortel in “Die {…}