Classical Obituaries
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Igor Oistrakh (1931 - 2021)
2nd Sep 2021
The Odessa-born violinist, who performed regularly with his father David as well as forging a significant independent solo career, has died aged 90.
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Teresa Żylis-Gara (1930-2021)
30th Aug 2021
The Polish soprano, whose wide repertoire encompassed rarities by Cavalieri, Chausson and Moniuszko as well as Mozart, Strauss and Verdi heroines, has died aged 91.
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Giuseppe Giacomini (1940-2021)
29th Jul 2021
The great but under-recorded Italian dramatic tenor, who excelled as Otello, Dick Johnson, Andrea Chénier and Pollione, has died aged 80.
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Sir Graham Vick (1953-2021)
19th Jul 2021
The English opera director, who won widespread acclaim for his groundbreaking work with Birmingham Opera Company, has died aged 67 from complications arising from COVID.
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Verdi: Falstaff
Bryn Terfel (Falstaff), Barbara Frittoli (Alice Ford), Roberto Frontali (Ford), Bernadette Manca di Nissa (Mistress Quickly), Desiree Rancatore (Nanetta), Kenneth Tarver (Fenton) Orchestra & Chorus of Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Bernard Haitink, stage direction by Graham Vick
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Louis Andriessen (1939-2021)
5th Jul 2021
The Dutch composer and pianist, whose major works include the Dante-inspired opera La Commedia and Theatre of the World, has died aged 82.
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Frederic Rzewski (1938-2021)
28th Jun 2021
The American composer and pianist, best known for his set of variations on The People United Will Never Be Defeated, has died 83.
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Anthony Payne (1936-2021)
3rd May 2021
The British composer, whose works included an 'elaboration' of Elgar's unfinished Third Symphony and numerous compositions for his late wife Jane Manning, has died aged 84.
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Christa Ludwig (1928-2021)
26th Apr 2021
One of the most moving and versatile singers of the twentieth century, the great German mezzo-soprano has died aged 93.
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Wagner: Lohengrin
Martti Talvela (King Henry), Jess Thomas (Lohengrin), Claire Watson (Elsa), Walter Berry (Telramund), Christa Ludwig (Ortrud), Eberhard Waechter (Herald), Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner & Ljubomir Pantscheff Chorus & Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, Karl Böhm
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Simon Bainbridge (1952-2021)
7th Apr 2021
The British composer, whose major works included Spirogyra, Diptych and settings of Primo Levi, has died aged 68.
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Jane Manning (1938-2021)
3rd Apr 2021
The British soprano and contemporary music champion, who premiered works by composers including Harrison Birtwistle, Judith Weir, Oliver Knussen and John Cage, has died aged 82.
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Yevgeny Nesterenko (1938-2021)
22nd Mar 2021
The Russian bass, who was closely associated with the Bolshoi throughout his long career and was particularly acclaimed in Russian repertoire, has died aged 83.
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Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov
Evgeni Nesterenko (Boris), Elena Obraztsova (Marina), Anatoli Babikin (Pimen), Vladimir Atlantov (Grigory/False Dmitri), Artur Eisen (Varlaam), Yuri Mazurok (Rangoni), Konstantin Lisovsky (Shuisky), Olga Teruchnova (Fyodor), Elena Shkolnikova (Xenia), Larissa Nikitina (Hostess), Alexei Maslennikov (Simpleton) Choir and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre, Mark Ermler
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James Levine (1943-2021)
17th Mar 2021
The American conductor and pianist, who served as Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera for forty years before his career ended amid allegations of sexual abuse, has died aged 77.
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Steuart Bedford (1939-2021)
16th Feb 2021
The British conductor and pianist, who worked closely with Benjamin Britten and premiered two of his late major works, has died aged 81.
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Britten: Death in Venice
Peter Pears (Aschenbach), John Shirley-Quirk (Traveller/Elderly Fop/Old Gondolier/Hotel Manager/Hotel Barber/Leader of the Players/Voice of Dionysus), James Bowman (Voice of Apollo) English Opera Group Chorus, English Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford
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Osian Ellis (1928-2021)
18th Jan 2021
The Welsh harpist, whose artistry inspired composers including Benjamin Britten, has died aged 92.
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2020 Goodbyes
30th Dec 2020
A short video tribute remembering some of the musicians who died during 2020.
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Ivry Gitlis (1922-2020)
28th Dec 2020
The Israeli violinist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, who founded a pioneering festival in the South of France and collaborated with musicians ranging from Jascha Heifetz to The Rolling Stones, has died aged 98.
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Claudio Cavina (1962-2020)
1st Sep 2020
The Italian countertenor, conductor and co-founder of La Venexiana, whose Monteverdi recordings were particularly acclaimed, has died aged 58.
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Julian Bream (1933-2020)
14th Aug 2020
The pioneering British guitarist and lutenist, who catalysed a widespread revival of interest in both instruments and inspired a huge body of new music for guitar, has died aged 87.
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Leon Fleisher (1928-2020)
3rd Aug 2020
The American pianist, who spent much of his career unable to use his right hand due to focal dystonia, has died aged 92.
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Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)
6th Jul 2020
The Oscar-winning Italian composer, whose iconic film scores included A Fistful of Dollars, Cinema Paradiso and The Hateful Eight, has died aged 91.
