Michael Cavanagh, famous opera director, died yesterday of problems from bladder most cancers in his hometown of London, Ontario. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Cavanagh crossed the world on his operatic profession.

Cavanagh was a prolific opera director who left his mark with firms throughout North America and Europe. The information unfold over social media because the opera group reacted with shock to his sudden passing on the age of 62.

Simply discovered that my favorite director, Michael Cavanagh has handed away from most cancers. He was the primary director I labored with professionally and was probably the greatest folks within the enterprise. I’m heartbroken. 💔😢

— Angus Bell 🇨🇦🇦🇺🦫🦘 (@CanadianOwl92) March 13, 2024

The extraordinary profession of Michael Cavanagh

Cavanagh is maybe greatest recognized for his tenure as Inventive Director of the Royal Swedish Opera. What was to have been a five-year appointment started within the fall of 2021. It’s a excessive level, however hardly the beginning of his influential profession.

Michael was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 16, 1961. He credited his profession in opera with early introduction to the artwork kind at age 12. He went on to carry out as an grownup chorister with Manitoba Opera, and studied singing in Germany. There, he would conclude he was in the precise enterprise, however within the flawed position.

Cavanagh would return to Canada, and commenced to work with Manitoba Opera in each capability from driver to stage supervisor. Over his profession, he returned to the corporate to direct many opera productions, most not too long ago in 2016.

He’d transfer on to Vancouver Opera within the Nineteen Nineties, then to Edmonton Opera as Inventive Director from 1998 to 2001. He served because the Producing Director at Opera on the Avalon in St. John’s, NL. His Nixon in China was a Vancouver Opera manufacturing that was staged to coincide with the 2010 Olympics.

Profession Highlights

He’d go on to work with many firms worldwide, together with l’Opéra de Montréal, Kansas Metropolis Opera, Opera Philadelphia, and others. He remounted Nixon in China in San Francisco and Dublin, in addition to Stockholm.

He directed greater than 150 operas throughout 32 totally different firms earlier than touchdown in Sweden. As a visitor artist, he directed a extremely acclaimed Royal Swedish productions of Nixon in China and Aida earlier than touchdown the everlasting place. It was a big appointment, and Cavanagh clearly relished his position there.

As he commented in a media launch, “From the very first second I set foot in that spectacular, historic opera home, I’ve cherished working on the Royal Swedish Opera.”

Different highlights:

• Directing three all-new productions of Mozart-DaPonte operas for the San Francisco Opera, Le Nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, and Don Giovanni, starting in 2019 via the 2021-22 seasons;
• He wrote the libretto for seven chamber operas with three totally different composers;
• His manufacturing of Cosìfan tutte might be staged by Los Angeles Opera in spring 2025.

He talks about his craft within the context of the Mozart San Francisco productions:

He might be mourned by former colleagues and college students on the College of Western Ontario’s Don Wright School of Music, the place he labored as an teacher, and directed a number of Opera at Western productions.

His message to the viewers of the Swedish Royal Opera is a poignant reminder of his work on this planet of opera.

“If there’s a single phrase that greatest describes the 4 operas that comprise our spring season, it will be perseverance. In every of the masterworks we’re presenting, the characters embody this trait as they relentlessly pursue their desires, targets, and ambitions. The phrase additionally completely sums up the dedication and willpower of so many people on this planet of opera, and all of arts and tradition, as we attempt to maintain our artwork kind related, entertaining, and provoking in an more and more fragmented and disjointed world.”

Within the household dwelling’s in London, Ontario, Michael was often known as a sports activities fanatic, and avid golfer. He’s survived by his spouse, soprano Jackie Brief, daughter, grandchildren, and different members of the family.

A celebration of his life might be held later within the spring in London, Ontario.

The world of opera has misplaced a big determine. Might he relaxation in peace.

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Anya Wassenberg is a Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. She is an skilled freelance author, blogger and writing teacher.

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