Sudden death of Vienna tenor, 57
RIPThe death has been confirmed of Steve Davislim, an Australian tenor of Chinese and Irish origin who lived mostly in Vienna.
Davislim spent the 1990s at the Zurich Opera, limelighting as tenor soloist in David Zinman’s garlanded recording of Beethoven’s 9th. He recorded Mozart with Thielemann, Bach with John Eliot Gardiner and Richard Strauss with Simone Young. Opera roles took him to the Salzburg Festival, Hamburg Opera, Berlin Staatsoper and various stages in Vienna, notably the Volksoper.
No cause of death has been made known officially, but friends report he was suffering from a prolonged illness.
The soprano Laura Aikin writes: ‘the opera community has lost a truly wonderful, kind colleague.’
Søren Schuhmacher writes: ‘Steve, amongst all the colleagues you were one of the nicest and most special ones… Loved you!’ Sunhae Im says: ‘Oh dear Steve!!! It’s so hard to believe… ‘
His Australian management writes: It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of our dear friend and great artist Steve Davislim. Steve was a man of great humanity and keen intellect who possessed a voice of rare beauty and facility. One of Australia’s most successful international artists, Steve was heard around the globe on the stages of the world’s most prestigious opera houses and with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors for over three decades. We are deeply grateful to Simone Young and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, to Richard Mills and Elizabeth Hill-Cooper and Victorian Opera, to Allanah Dopson and the Tasmanian Chamber Music Festival, and to Stefan Cassomenos and the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival for having given us the opportunity to hear him again very recently. A fine artist taken from us too soon but one whose performances we treasure and whose many recordings we will continue to cherish.
This is very sad news. Very good tenor. Loved his voice. I have a couple of cd’s with him singing and he is excellent. Awful news.
You will never hear Britten’s folk songs more beautifully sung than by SD on his 2008 Melba CD (accompanied by Simone Young).
Just listened, totally agree; a great loss, a marvellous artist departed too soon….
Dear Steve,
One of my proudest moments was the day I managed to persuade you to join our ensemble in the Volksoper Wien. For a couple of years we and our audience were graced by your high international class and immense artistry that you displayed in many of your core roles. Unforgotten – of course – your portrayal of Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress in the wonderful production of Dmitri Bertman.
On behalf of all colleagues we thank your forever and wish you safe travels.
Love
Akiko and Niels
I sang with him at Zurich opera house. Gorgeous voice and lovely person. So sad.
May his memory be a blessing. We were colleagues for many years and were young artists at the International Opera Studio Zürich 1993-1994. RIP Steve.
I was with him in Vienna last Wednesday and we spent a few nostalgic hours together. Although greatly affected by his illness, Steve was serene in spirit and cogent in mind. A wonderful singer and a wonderful man.
Very sad news. I saw him sing Don Ottavio in Sydney in 2000 and last year Loge in a concert performance by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
The highest plaudits for Steve Davislim are justified. An elegant voice of real beauty and by all accounts a man of great humanity. From the first time I heard his wonderful tenor I was mesmerised. A terrible shock and a very significant loss. Vale Steve Davislim.
Very sad news. He made many friends and earned many admirers. RIP.
Heard him at his only Met appearance, a run of Die Entführung aus dem Serail, where he sang Pedrillo to Matthew Polenzani’s Belmonte.
RIP to a wonderful singer.
Unbelievable. Never forget him.