Horror as Bayreuth soloist is killed in bike accident
mainLaurent Verney, viola soloist of the Paris National Opera l’Opéra national de Paris, who played every summer at Bayreuth, has died after being knocked off his bike. Laurent was 61.
He won his position at the Opéra aged just 25.
French musicians are in shock.
Choqué et Immense tristesse d’apprendre le décès de Laurent Verney suite à un accident grave de vélo.
Pensées pour sa famille et ses collègues de l’Opera de Paris. pic.twitter.com/RtnmBGTpU4— Gautier CAPUÇON (@GautierCapucon) May 4, 2021
Francois-frederic Guy: Upset to hear of the death of my violist friend Laurent Verney. Unmissable figure of the Paris Opera Orchestra.. We exchanged regularly between Wagnerophiles who had played every summer in the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra for decades…
Beautiful passionate musician… Words are missing. What an awful time.
Goodbye dear Laurent.
Emanuel Ceysson: Devastated by the untimely passing of my friend and colleague the great viola player, Principal of the Paris Opéra, Laurent Verney. He leaves behind his mother, 2 beautiful daughters, and Sabine, his partner for years, my thoughts and condolences go to them. So many musical and friendship memories in the 15 years we have known each other, here in Montreal for our recording “L’Opera en Duo”, in 2008. Rest In Peace my dear Laurent, you will not be forgotten.
Bechara El-Khoury: Terrible and sad news! Our friend Laurent Verney passed away at the age of 61… Bike accident…… He was the 1st alto supersolist at the Paris Opera and a lovely person with a big heart… Musician Exceptional French, born in Lebanon in 1960 His mother taught at the National Conservatory of Music in Beirut and his father the great architect Raoul Verney had made many outstanding and magnificent constructions in Lebanon including the Fakra Chapel in the mountains. Peace to your soul my dear Laurent. We will never forget you..
Il était un gentleman de l’Alto et un collègue admirable.
Alto solo de l’@operadeparis ,
Laurent Verney est parti trop tôt suite à un accident de velo.
Je n’oublierai jamais toutes ces œuvres jouées ensemble dans les années 2000 et son immense gentillesse.
Tristesse immense. pic.twitter.com/ONVBcsAlXV— Renaud Capuçon (@RCapucon) May 4, 2021
Very tragic .
We need to keep on making the roads as safe / approachable as possible for cycling. It’s the way forward.
In Germany, we have bicycle lanes. But that doesn’t stop some sporty fellows to use the road anyway. And because they are sporty, they don’t sport lights. Every gram counts, right? These guys are especially fun at night.
All I’m saying is: Yes, we need the roads to be safer. Like not being killed by a truck making a turn. But we also need cyclists to be less suicidal.
Sorry, but this sounds like you never rode a bike in the countryside. In almost all instances I witnessed it had been the car drivers who were reckless.
Even in towns, it is mainly a small minority of car drivers who drive with reckless disregard for other road users who cause injury to them.
I thought bike riding is safer in Europe than in USA. Guess not.
“I thought bike riding is safer in Europe than in USA. Guess not.”
Based on this one comment I guess all Americans are stupid.
Brettermeier: I thought bike riding is safer in Europe than in USA.
It mostly is safer in most of Europe, but it always depends on the particular road.
If you want to turn this one incident into an indictment of all European bike/road safety, then nobody can stop you.
you can’t use one tragic case as a means to establish such a gargantuan comparison!
LOL, sure he can 🙂
Cars usually win, regardless of where.
The chosen track on the album is only harp – no viola. This is supposed to be about Verney. Whose idiotic idea was this??
Indeed, I also waited in vain for the viola
to come in. 🙁
In Boston they put in wide bike lanes in place of parking spaces years ago after many cyclists were killed. I suffered a severely separated shoulder in a bike accident years ago when I was cut off. If I had landed on my head instead of my shoulder that could have been the end and no one here would have heard Karl’s words of wisdom.
I don’t know if it would have made a difference in this case but also important are bicycle helmets. In New York State they are only required for kids under 8 but should be required for everyone in all countries.
Unfortunately, the evidence shows that cars drive more dangerously when cyclists wear helmets. Overall, there is no safety improvement.
I had a friend who died in a similar way a few years ago. He did have a helmet on. It doesn’t always help, but I would imagine better to have one than not. No one knows exactly what happened. The driver was driving slowly and was in her lane. It’s possible she may have clipped him as he was trying to avoid something on the shoulder. He fell off his bike and hit his head. Sometimes it doesn’t take much.
Tragic. Condolences to his family, friends and students. RIP Mr. Verney.