Covid claims widely experienced Met conductor

The popular and enterprising conductor Joel Revzen died last night of coronavirus. He was 74.

He joined the conducting staff of the Metropolitan Opera 20 years ago, making a belated debut in April 2017 conducting Eugene Onegin starring Anna Netrebko and Peter Mattei. He was liked and admired by two generations of singers.

Among other posts, he conducted the Minnesota Chorale for a decade, working with both the Minnesota Orchestra and the St Paul Chamber orchestra. He was also Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for Classical Tahoe, a festival that drew in musicians from the Met, LA Phil and other leading ensembles.

Two years ago he became music director of the Mayshad Festival in Marrakech, Morocco. From 2003 to 2012, he was artistic director of Arizona Opera. For more than a decade he conducted annually at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg.

He made two recordings with the London Stmphony Orchestra and others with St Paul and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

UPDATE: Colleagues pay tribute

RIP dear Joel : May your smile and joy brighten the heavens ! I will never forget you have me my first job as a pianist in opera @BerkshireOpera 1998! And when you saw me conduct in NY your eyes lit up with pride as you hugged me! Will miss you terribly @JoelRevzen pic.twitter.com/xluhpfJ5di

— Speranza Scappucci (@speranzascapp) May 26, 2020