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Obituaries

Photo: Nomi Baumgartl

Remembering José van Dam (1940-2026)

By Kaitlyn Chan on 19 February 2026 Classical Music, Obituaries, Opera, Vocal

Celebrated bass-baritone José van Dam has passed away at age 85. His death on February 17, 2026, was announced by the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, a Belgian academic institute that was greatly shaped by van Dam’s contributions as founder and Master in residence of its voice section. Van Dam was one of today’s most requested interpreters of the bass-baritone repertoire, and he featured on the cover of La Scena’s October 2000 issue. As a tribute, we republish our interview with the singer below. José van Dam: Master Singer by Wah Keung Chan, October 1, 2000 It is refreshing to hear…

Remembering Dr. Ante L. Padjen (1942 – 2025)

By Newswire on 7 November 2025 Montreal, Obituaries

In Memoriam Dr. Ante L. Padjen Founder and Director, I Medici di McGill Orchestra Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology, McGill University (1942.02.04 – 2025.11.03) Tom Samek, Deputy Director of I Medici di McGill and good friend of Dr. Padjen: True to his favourite way of describing others, “illustrious” perfectly captures his own generous and devoted spirit. Through all the ups and downs, Ante’s heart was always focused on keeping our musical family together and in harmony. He cared deeply — not only for the orchestra, but for each of us personally. His warmth, humour, and belief in the healing power of…

Photo: Barbara Klemm (left)

Remembering Alfred Brendel (1931-2025)

By Kaitlyn Chan on 17 June 2025 Classical Music, Obituaries, Piano

The highly accomplished pianist, writer, and composer Alfred Brendel has passed away at age 94. His representatives confirmed he died peacefully in his London home on Tuesday. Brendel, renowned as one of the greatest interpreters of Beethoven’s piano music, featured on the cover of La Scena’s March 2001 issue. As a tribute to him, we republish our interview and article about his legacy below. Alfred Brendel: A Musical Paradox by Lucie Renaud, March 1, 2001 Considering the phenomenal number of articles written about Alfred Brendel, it might seem futile — or at least not particularly useful — to take yet…

Death of Tenor Alain Nonat

By Wah Keung Chan on 27 March 2025 Arts Industry, Obituaries, Opera

La Scena is sad to learn of the passing of tenor Alain Nonat on Dec. 31, 2024 at the age of 82. Alain was a good friend of singers and La Scena Musicale. We include below his official obituary and the last article we wrote on Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques (JAL) organized by Théâtre Lyrichorégra 20 (TL20). We offer our condolences to his family. Update March 27, 2025 The funeral will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Saint-Édouard Church in Montreal, at the top of 425 Beaubien East, Montreal. The family will receive condolences starting at 1 p.m. A…

Credit: Vancouver Sun

Remembering Kazuyoshi Akiyama (1941-2025)

By Madeline Boldt on 29 January 2025 Arts Industry, Canadian Music, Classical, Classical Music, Obituaries, Orchestral, Toronto, Vancouver, West

Legendary Japanese conductor Kazuyoshi Akiyama has passed away at the age of 84. A cornerstone of Vancouver’s classical music scene, Akiyama led the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for over 13 years. Under his leadership from 1972 to 1985, the VSO transitioned from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre to the Orpheum, marking a new era of growth, increased ticket sales, and a revitalized sound. Early Life and Career Born in Japan in 1941, he launched into the world of classical music in 1964 when he made his debut with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. His immediate success earned him the roles of both Music…

Conductor Sir Andrew Davis, 80, Dies

By Eva Stone-Barney on 22 April 2024 Obituaries, Orchestral

Sir Andrew Davis, former conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, died of Leukemia on Saturday, at the age of 80. Davis led the TSO for thirteen years, from 1975-1988, making his tenure the third-longest in the orchestra’s history. In 2018, he returned to the orchestra for two years, acting as interim director between Peter Oundjian and Gustavo Gimeno. In 2012, Davis earned a Juno Award for his recording of Massenet’s Thais with the TSO. His final performance with the orchestra was in November of 2023, when he conducted them alongside the Amadeus Choir in a performance of Fauré’s Requiem and…

Left to right: Daniela Nardi, Joyce DiDonata, Seiji Ozawa (Photos provided)

Industry News (April/May 2024)

By Eva Stone-Barney on 29 March 2024 Arts Industry, Obituaries

Obituaries Renowned conductor Seiji Ozawa died in Tokyo on Feb. 6, at the age of 88. Ozawa was the first Japanese conductor to receive international recognition, having served as music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and was the longest-serving music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which he conducted from 1973-2002. Canadian opera director Michael Cavanagh has died. He was 62. Cavanagh was appointed Artistic Director of the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, having directed upward of 150 productions at 32 companies in Canada, the United States, and across Europe. Cavanagh died of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis,…

Brian Mulroney Funeral Music

By Wah Keung Chan on 23 March 2024 Obituaries, Vocal

Here is the list of music and musicians performing at the March 23, 2024 funeral ceremony of the late Brian Mulroney (1939 – 2024), 18th Prime Minister of Canada at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal. Musique des funérailles de Brian Mulroney Voici la liste des musiques de la cérémonie funéraire du 23 mars 2024 de feu Brian Mulroney (1939 – 2024), 18e Premier ministre du Canada, à la Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal. Preludes Pierre Grandmaison, Titular organist “Ebben? Ne andrò lontana,” La Wally by Alfredo Catalani Marie-Josée Lord, Soprano Jean-Willy Kunz, Organist-in-Residence of l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Kyrie from W.…

Michael Cavanagh (1961-2024)

By Gianmarco Segato on 13 March 2024 Arts Industry, Obituaries, Opera

Renowned Canadian opera director Michael Cavanagh has passed away suddenly at the age of 62. Cavanagh was one of Canada’s most prolific and sought-after opera directors who in 2020 was appointed Artistic Director of the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm. Cavanagh directed over 150 opera productions at 32 companies in Canada, U.S. and Europe. He had a particularly close relationship with San Francisco Opera where most recently, he directed new productions of their Mozart/Da Ponte trilogy: Le nozze di Figaro (2019), Così fan tutte (2021) and Don Giovanni (2022). Previous to his appointment in Stockholm, he directed high profile productions…