American-born, German-domiciled bass Rodney Godshall has died at the age of 81. Born on May 26, 1944, in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, the bass began his career at the Santa Fe Opera, where he was an Apprentice in 1964, 1966, and 1967. Throughout his time as an apprentice, he performed in such productions as “La bohème,” “Salome, “Gianni Schicchi,” and “L’enfant et les {…}
Reknowned German baritone Franz Grundheber died on Sept. 27 at the age of 88. Born on Sept 27, 1937, in Trier, Germany, Grunheber graduated from the Max-Planck-Gymnasium in 1959 and later enrolled in the Air Force of the Bundeswehr. He later studied in Hamburg and then at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and spent a summer at the Music Academy {…}
On Sept. 14, 2025, bass-baritone Siegmund Nimsgern died at the age of 85. Born on Jan. 14, 1940, in Sankt Wendel, Saarland, Nimsgern studied singing and musical education at the Hochschule für Musik Saar. In 1967, he made his debut at the Saarländisches Staatstheater in Saarbrücken, and in 1971, he became an ensemble member at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein {…}
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 {…}