Musicologist, critic, and artistic director Luciano Alberti died on Jan. 11, 2025 in Florence. He was 93-years-old. Alberti was a teacher of music at the Università di Siena and published numerous writings about the performing arts. He was also the Artistic Director of the Teatro Comunale di Firenze and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino as well as at the Accademia Chigiana di {…}
Spanish mezzo-soprano Ana Mária Iriarte has died at the age of 98. Born on Jan. 23, 1927, in Madrid, the mezzo went to the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid and later went to Vienna to continue her studies. She also studied in Milan under such renowned teachers as Elvira de Hidalgo and Mercedes Llopart. On Dec. 4, 1945 {…}
(Credit: Met Opera archives) Legendary American bass Paul Plishka has died at the age of 83. Born on August 28, 1941, Plishka was from Old Forge, Pennsylvania, and Paterson, New Jersey and studied at Eastside High School and Montclair State College. In 1961, Plishka made his operatic debut at the Paterson Lyric Opera. He toured with the Metropolitan Opera National {…}
On Jan. 13, 2025, conductor Elgar Howarth died at the age of 89. Born on Nov. 4, 1935 Cannock, Staffordshire, Howarth’s father was an engineer who also conducted the Barton Hall Works Band, in which Elgar played cornet and his brother Stanford trombone. He went to the University of Manchester and the Royal Manchester College of Music and together with his classmates {…}
Paul Charles Clarke has died at the age of 59 after suffering a heart attack. Opera Magazine first reported the news. Born in Liverpool, Clarke studied at the Royal College of Music, winning the 1989 Kathleen Ferrier Competition. He went on to have a successful international career following his professional début with the Welsh National Opera. He performed at the {…}
Deborah Lifton has died at the age of 48. The soprano died on Jan. 5 with her family by her side after a courageous battle with cancer since the summer of 2023. Born in Manhasset, NY, she was raised in Massapequa Park, NY and graduated from Massapequa High School, where she starred in multiple musical theater productions. She went on {…}
(Credit: Theater Bremen) On Jan 12, 2025, General Intendant of Theater Bremen Michael Börgerding died at the age of 64. He died of a serious illness. Born in Lohne/Oldenburg in 1960, Börgerding studied German, sociology, and philosophy at the University of Göttingen. He became a dramaturg and director at the Junges Theater Göttingen and later worked as a dramaturg at {…}
Romanian soprano Dorina Cheşei has died. The Bucharest National Opera announced the news via social media and said, “With deep regret, we announce the passing of soprano Dorina Cheşei. We are parting with an exceptional voice and a soul dedicated to the lyrical art, a graduate of the Music Academy in Bucharest and formed under the guidance of the great {…}
Renowned director Otto Schenk has passed away. He was 94. Born in Vienna, Schenk studied acting at the Max Reinhardt Seminar and then commenced his career at the Theater in der Josefstadt and Wiener Volkstheater. He shifted into directing in 1953, his first projects taking place at the Burgtheater, Munich Kammerspiele, and Salzburg Festival. In 1957, he directed “The Magic {…}
Polish opera singer Andrzej Klimczak has died in Warsaw after a long illness at 65. The Polish Royal Opera, which served as director and co-founded announced the news stating, “It is with great sorrow that we bid farewell to Andrzej Klimczak – co-founder of the Polish Royal Opera, its general manager from 2019 to 2024, singer and director, but for {…}
Teatro Colón has announced that Scenic Director Enrique Bordolini has died. He was 75. The company said, “It is with deep pain that we communicate the sad news of the death of Enrique Bordolini, stage director of the Teatro Colón. Master of stage and theater lighting, trained at the Superior Art Institute of Columbus Theater, marked fundamental milestones in the {…}