Legendary soprano Sena Jurinac, one of the most beloved artists at the Vienna State Opera, died yesterday. She was 90. [via AP] Read more »
Tenor Salvatore Licitra died earlier today after nine days in a coma following a motorcycle accident. He was 43. [La repubblica]
Entrepreneur, philanthropist, humanitarian and Democrat Agnes Varis died on Friday at her home in Manhattan. Besides her advocacy of prescription-drug reform and financial support of the Jazz Foundation of America, she was a managing director of the Metropolitan Opera, where her projects included the Agnes Varis and Karl Leichtman Rush Tickets Program and the underwriting of productions including Satyagraha and Doctor Atomic. Dr. Varis was 81. [New York Times]
La Cieca has just heard that the great American baritone Cornell MacNeil died earlier today. He was 88.
The great Welsh soprano, superb interpreter of Mozart, Verdi and Lieder, died earlier today. She was 69. [Washington Post]
German heldentenor and crossover performer Peter Hofmann died yesterday. He was 66.
When handing out the goodies, the gods weren’t stingy with Shirley Verrett. Few opera singers were as prodigiously gifted as Verrett: the perfect amalgam of Kunst and Stimm housed in a frame of voluptuous allure. In addition to an instrument of stunning natural beauty and easy range, Verrett displayed superior musicianship, dramatic intelligence and searing interpretative commitment.
La Cieca has just heard that magnificent American mezzo-soprano and, later, soprano Shirley Verrett died earlier today. She was 79.
Cher Public