Leading opera director dies at 62
RIPThe Canadian director Michael Cavanagh, Artistic Director of the Royal Swedish Opera, has died of eptomeningeal cancer in London, Ontario, at an early age.
He staged more that 150 operas in three-dozen houses.
Full obit here.
From the Don Wright Faculty of Music:
It with deepest sadness and heartbreak that I announce the passing of Michael Cavanagh, former Don Wright Faculty of Music instructor and stage director of several Opera at Western productions. Michael passed away earlier this morning from leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.
The legacy of his humanity, graciousness, humour, and artistry resounds in the hearts and memories with all those who were fortunate enough to work with and know him – and Michael was absolutely adored by his former Western colleagues and students. An internationally renowned opera director, he most recently was Director of Opera at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, Sweden, successfully leading many critically acclaimed opera productions. Michael also enjoyed long-standing and artistically compelling partnerships with the San Francisco Opera and many Canadian opera companies. But his true heart always remained at home with his family in London, Ontario, Canada.
Michael is survived by wife Jackie Short, daughter Amelia Pipher Cavanagh, grandson Alden (Bram), his mother Angela Stevens, brother Carl Cavanagh (Arlene), sister Christine Morley, step siblings Sandy Stevens (Ron de Gaust) and Brad Stevens (Hemmy) and by his in-laws, Matthew and Karen Short, Doreen Totten, Lisa Short, and many nieces and nephews who adored him.
Jackie has relayed her sincerest thanks “…to the wonderful doctors, nurses, PSWs and staff at Victoria and University Hospital and St Joseph’s Hospice during this devastating time.”
A celebration of life to be held later this spring in London, Ontario. Details will be forthcoming.
Michael was such an incredible director, and just as awesome a human. In every rehearsal, in every interaction he just lit up the room with this brilliant light and love, and made every single person he had anything at all to do with feel special and respected. His productions had a way of being incredibly atmospheric and moving, very relevant and of our time and simultaneously absolutely perfectly capturing the atmosphere the composer wanted to share, and telling the story in a way that was entirely clear and easy to follows. This is a huge loss for Canada and the world. He was so generous and warm and warm towards me – as he was with everyone, and I learned so much putting Elektra on with him – absolutely on a professional level, but also just on a human level. Much of the advice he gave me, including about programming strategies and how to excite people about contemporary music, I use pretty much daily to this day. When I think of him I always see this huge, loving smile. He was the very best essence of Canada, of the Canadian spirit, and of our art and its’ best spirit. His memory is and will always be a blessing.
Holy cow. What’s with all these seemingly healthy people suddenly getting cancer (or a resurgence of) recently?! Maybe it’s at normal levels, but I’ve had four friends and a couple relatives diagnosed over the past three months.
It’s the electromagnetic rays from our smart devices and cell phone towers.