I did not want to be the first to mention it, but it now appears to be public knowledge on music sites that Anthony Rolfe Johnson was suffering from Alzheimers in the last years of his career, and died of it this week.

The symptoms were first noticed in 1998, on a Spanish tour with Sir Neville Marriner. There were further lapses in Munich at the Staatsoper when he played Emaeus in Monteverdi’s Ulisse in 2001. ‘His confidence began to suffer enormously,’ writes a trusted colleague, ‘and over the following couple of years he slowly withdrew from singing altogether and had virtually retired by 2004.’

We should salute Anthony’s courage in carrying for so long with that disability, and the even greater heroism of the colleagues who supported him. He was a generous and popular man, and his fellow-artists did their best to keep him going.

Nevertheless, the loss is tragic. To lose a great singer with the voice intact in his early 60s is cruel and horrible. In the memory of Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Let’s do our best to help the scientists who are working on better diagnostic tools and an early cure for Alzheimer’s. Let’s do it now.  

I did not want to be the first to mention it, but it now appears to be public knowledge on music sites that Anthony Rolfe Johnson was suffering from Alzheimers in the last years of his career, and died of it this week.

The symptoms were first noticed in 1998, on a Spanish tour with Sir Neville Marriner. There were further lapses in Munich at the Staatsoper when he played Emaeus in Monteverdi’s Ulisse in 2001. ‘His confidence began to suffer enormously,’ writes a trusted colleague, ‘and over the following couple of years he slowly withdrew from singing altogether and had virtually retired by 2004.’

We should salute Anthony’s courage in carrying for so long with that disability, and the even greater heroism of the colleagues who supported him. He was a generous and popular man, and his fellow-artists did their best to keep him going.

Nevertheless, the loss is tragic. To lose a great singer with the voice intact in his early 60s is cruel and horrible. In the memory of Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Let’s do our best to help the scientists who are working on better diagnostic tools and an early cure for Alzheimer’s. Let’s do it now.  

The latest withdrawal from the BBC Proms is Sir Colin Davis, officially on health grounds. My understanding is that he has asked to be released from engagements during a period of family mourning.

His absence, coming so soon after the deaths of Sir Charles Mackerras, who was down for two Proms, and Anthony Rolfe Johnson casts a pall on an otherwise glorious musical summer – a reminder of our fragility and mortality. Sombre times, indeed.

BBC press release:

Matthias Bamert to replace Sir Colin Davis at BBC Proms

Monday 9 August, Prom 32, 7.00pm

Sir Colin Davis has announced his withdrawal from all his European Union Youth Orchestra engagements on health grounds, with extreme regrets.

He was due to conduct the EUYO at the BBC Proms on Monday 9 August.

The concert will now be conducted by Matthias Bamert who has appeared regularly at the Proms since his debut in 1985. The programme remains unchanged: Tchaikovsky’s Fantasy Overture Romeo and Juliet, Janácek’s Taras Bulba and Berlioz’s Harold in Italy.

The viola soloist in the Berlioz is Maxim Rysanov who returns to the Proms on the Last Night in 2010.

The Proms continue until 11 September 2010, and full up-to-date information on the season is available at bbc.co.uk/proms.

Proms concerts are live on BBC Radio 3

The latest withdrawal from the BBC Proms is Sir Colin Davis, officially on health grounds. My understanding is that he has asked to be released from engagements during a period of family mourning.

His absence, coming so soon after the deaths of Sir Charles Mackerras, who was down for two Proms, and Anthony Rolfe Johnson casts a pall on an otherwise glorious musical summer – a reminder of our fragility and mortality. Sombre times, indeed.

BBC press release:

Matthias Bamert to replace Sir Colin Davis at BBC Proms

Monday 9 August, Prom 32, 7.00pm

Sir Colin Davis has announced his withdrawal from all his European Union Youth Orchestra engagements on health grounds, with extreme regrets.

He was due to conduct the EUYO at the BBC Proms on Monday 9 August.

The concert will now be conducted by Matthias Bamert who has appeared regularly at the Proms since his debut in 1985. The programme remains unchanged: Tchaikovsky’s Fantasy Overture Romeo and Juliet, Janácek’s Taras Bulba and Berlioz’s Harold in Italy.

The viola soloist in the Berlioz is Maxim Rysanov who returns to the Proms on the Last Night in 2010.

The Proms continue until 11 September 2010, and full up-to-date information on the season is available at bbc.co.uk/proms.

Proms concerts are live on BBC Radio 3