English opera backer dies
mainPeter Moores inherited a half-share of a football pools fortune.
He spent a large part of it on his other passion – opera in English.
Peter paid for 30 album recordings on the Chandos label and underwrote the Opera Rara enterprise.
His gifts were legion. He died yesterday, aged 83.
Obituary here.
One of the great arts philanthropists of our time. Sad news.
My wife, Anna Ryberg, and I are but two of the countless singers, artists, directors and conductors to benefit from Peter’s generosity. He paid for a large part of my post-graduate education at the RNCM, gave me a sizeable grant to get ‘set up’ in Milan when I was offered a place at the Scala academy, he even paid for a knee operation I needed at short notice.
He continued to pay keen interest in our careers and was delighted to receive updates at the Foundation. We had the privilege of singing at his birthday celebrations in London and at the opening of Comptom Verney, both memorable occasions.
The cultural landscape of the UK is left immeasureably poorer by his passing.
I never met him, but what a legacy: the English Ring of Goodall and ENO, captured and sponsored thanks to him. And the Mastersingers of ’68…
We absolutely need more of his like.
A great philanthropist. He will be much missed.
Rest in peace! He truly put his money where his mouth was and leaves a wonderfully documented legacy of his largesse.