Soloist, 59, dies of coronavirus

Soloist, 59, dies of coronavirus

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norman lebrecht

March 10, 2020

It is reported that the great Argentine saxophonist Marcelo Peralta has died in Madrid of coronavirus.

He was 59, one of the youngest fatalities in the western world.

Peralta had lived in Madrid since 1996.

He taught at the Manuel de Falla Conservatory and appeared as a soloist with the RTVE Symphony Orchestra and others.

Comments

  • V.Lind says:

    How very sad. it was only a matter of time before music got hit, but much more disturbing is this man’s age. I and I imagine many like me had thought ourselves relatively safe because we were not elderly. Now it looks as if this disease is no respecter of age.

    In fact, from various views on the likely time to become infected to strange outbreaks after people were “cleared,” it is increasingly evident that not enough is yet known about this virus and how it operates. I’m amazed there are any concert halls still open, or schools, or anything.

    The economic fallout from this is going to be cataclysmic.

    • Peter San Diego says:

      COVID mortality increases with increasing age, but does so as a continuous function. Remember that the physician who first reported the disease in Wuhan, then died of it, was only 34. It looks (at the moment, with undoubtedly incomplete data) like the mortality rated averaged over all ages is somewhere between 1 and 4 percent, but mortality for those over 70 is between 15 and 20 percent. It also appears that there may be two strains of the virus, one of them being significantly worse than the other.

  • Wai Kit Leung says:

    This is very sad indeed. However, I would like to point out that he was nowhere near one of the youngest fatalities. The first fatality in Hong Kong was in his 30s, and I am sure there were many who were younger in China. This virus can kill people of all ages.

  • Zsolt Bognar says:

    Condolences to his family and community–how tragic for somebody so young…

    • Roberto says:

      Thanks for the article.
      It says there that he lived in Spain since 1996, not 1966. (“Peralta residía en España desde 1996.”)

  • Sir says:

    That’s not Marcelo, but an actor with the same name.

  • Nijinsky says:

    I think it’s Bells’ fault, but I can’t figure out if it was up or downbow!? Yeah, velly interestink, but was it up or down bow!? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LMrrXpP5QQ&fmt=22

  • Victor Narraway says:

    Sad indeed to see such a talented musician die. I’m especially concerned about his age, only 59. If he was over weight and had any health problems, they may have complicated his condition. R.I.P. The music lives on.

    • Anon says:

      Is being overweight a COVID-19 risk factor? I’ve never seen that mentioned before.

      • Saxon Broken says:

        Being very overweight is a general health risk. Remarkably, for example (or probably surprising to most people), being fat makes cancer more likely. Hence weight is not just an issue for heart disease and diabetes.

  • David Smith says:

    Tragic news indeed and I am wondering if the deep breathing needed in the playing of wind instruments could contribute to a more likely fatality from this dreadful virus including ones respiratory system to inhale more.

    • Mike Tiley says:

      I take your point – which might explain why some singers are getting nervous about it. Conversely, I’m pretty sure that playing a wind instrument would help develop lung function and capacity, and hence improve ones ability to cope with such infections

  • Preston Cole says:

    We share the lost of one of our jazz musicians from the coronavirus. Hope the family make through profound lost.

  • Madeline says:

    Did he have any health issues before this

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