Gerard Mortier is dead

Gerard Mortier is dead

main

norman lebrecht

March 09, 2014

Dutch and Belgian media report the death early today of Gerard Mortier, one of the most flamboyant, contentious and original opera personalities of modern times. Gerard was 70. He had been stricken with pancreatic cancer this past year.

The shock is great. We mourn his passing.

For a first appreciation of a ‘brilliant, infuriating’ man, click here.

A protégé remembers Gerard here.

 

gerard mortier

Here’s Gerard himself, talking about his last creation, Brokeback Mountain:

And here’s a summary of his last interview.

A statement from Salzburg festival president Helga Rabl-Stadler:  “Gerard Mortier was a steadfast follower of the philosophy of Giuseppe di Lampedusa, who wrote in his novel Il Gattopardo: ‘If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change’.”

 

Comments

  • Guillaume says:

    DECES GERARD MORTIER

  • G Ell says:

    May he rest in peace. Sad news to wake up to.

  • mhtetzel says:

    And thank you for posting Mortier´s beautiful and inspiring interview.

  • stanley cohen says:

    Was he responsible for that Brussels Trovatore?

    May he rest in peace.

  • I never worked with Mortier but I’m a little alarmed at how little sympathy his passing seems to inspire in SD’s readership.

  • Dave T says:

    J Lopez-Cobos: You satisfied now? Honor restored?

  • MOST READ TODAY: