Death of an indispensable opera pianist
RIPFriends have communicated the passing of Margaret Singer after a long illness.
She started working at 12, accompanying 65 performances of Hansel and Gretel across the southwest US.
After a spell as assistant conductor at New York City Opera, she worked with San Francisco Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, and Washington Opera (D.C.).
In 1986, Margaret Singer was engaged as Solorepetitorin at Hannover Oper in Germany. She also worked with Ulf Hoelscher at the Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe, and led the Opera Department at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.
She was one of the most remarkable humans I’ve ever met. Even in her 80s, she had passion, energy, and a work ethic to put anybody to shame. A huge loss…
A huge mover and shaker in my musical and professional life. I could go on and on…
“May her force be with us!”
I engaged Margaret for many of my CD projects with works by my father Richard Flury and by myself: piano concertos, chamber music, works for solo piano etc. Always Margaret appeared very well prepared and worked persistently and concentrated during the recordings.
Many terms would apply to Margaret: Musicality, pianistic mastery, modesty and dedication are probably the most ostensible:
Margaret was concerned with the music she played and felt it, she did not need long explanations. Technical problems on the piano did not exist for her. No doubt she could have had a great career as a pianist with these gifts, but her modest service to music and music education was more important to her: she accompanied countless singers, instrumentalists, chamber music partners and not only that: she passed on to them important advice and tips from her great experience. Not in vain did Gerald Moore, probably the greatest accompanist of all time, comment on the first prize Margaret won in London with the words: ” . . .she was the only one who sang with the singer.”
Margaret will be missed: apart from the artistic aspects, her humour, her easy-going manner, her dedicated listening. We are happy to have known her and look forward to her continuing to speak to us from the many CDs.
And what a classy, elegant outfit in that photo, pure elegance and taste, same as in music I guess.
My heart breaks at this news of Margaret’s death. She was my coach for 15 years. Her knowledge, experience and strength is a huge loss and will be extremely hard to match.
Sharon,I just found out today when pianist jose ramos santana called me as he knows that she had been my good friend and coach for over fifty years! I share this sad moment with you as I know that she and my good friend diane curry were also your friends and admired you as a singer and as a pianist! The last time I saw Margaret was on Feb. 26,2017 at a memorial service for diane curry who had died recently. Margaret and I spent a few hours after that reminiscing about our lives and the things we both shared for so many years. She was a great pianist and coach but more than that, a great human being. My last e mail to her was on Feb. 14th, the day of her birthday, and she did not write back as she always did so I was worried about it. Today is a sad day but we must be thankful for having shared our lives with the great margaret singer.
Thank you so much for posting this announcement. I was so surprised that I saw nothing on social media about Margaret’s passing. She touched the lives of so many singers, including mine (San Francisco Opera, here in Germany as well.)
Colenton Freeman
Tenor and Professor of Voice
Giessen, Germany
Today February 14 I remember with love my great friend and coach Margaret Singer’s birth date. She was a great musician and great human being and will never be forgotten. My love to her son and relatives.