American opera mourns an English leader
RIPThe death has been reported of Richard Gaddes, founder of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and successor to founder John Crosby as head of Santa Fe Opera. Gaddes, who was 81, died in New York.
Tyneside born, Gaddes set up an artists management company and played a key role in the careers of Kiri te Kanawa, Frederica von Stade, Frank Lopardo and Alan Gilbert. Under his guidance, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis became the first US opera company to perform at the Edinburgh Festival. Gaddes retired from Santa Fe in 2008.
This is very bad news.
Richard and I worked together in St. Louis and Santa Fe.
He was as good as it gets in running an Opera company and a fine gentleman,
Richard was an opera giant and legend. He dramatically changed the landscape in America with vision and clarity. It was my honor to call him my friend.
I do hope there will be some tribute to him… please keep me posted.. he was a wonderful friend to us and so many people were helped and nurtured by his kindness and generosity
Richard was an old friend, mentor, sometimes wrathful to me, always thinking outside the box. The one thing I learned from Richard was that he was a “WHY NOT” person as opposed to the generally sheepish impresario. The Beggar’s Opera in an apple shed in rural Missouri? Sure. Why not? Go to Edinburgh? Why not? world premieres, get Jonathan Miller for US opera debut? All you can do is ASK so…why not. And the list goes on and on and on. Sure there were sometimes mistakes but all with the “why not” attitude. One fun anecdote: my first job in STL with him was to be head of music and casting consultant. In my first season, Richard charged me with finding a chorus master as the company was transitioning to a professional chorus. He had a rather well-known (at the time) American composer/conductor he really wanted. When he ran the name by me, I said ‘You know, I don’t think it right.” “well then, who?” “Well, I have a great friend in Boston who can do magic with choruses and I think we should try.” “All right, my dear, but if he is no good, it’s on your head.” The person was Donald Palumbo who stayed for ten seasons and the rest is history. He is now a legend. But this was Richard doing “why not.” When my career stopped short four years ago, he was among the first to offer support. And a year ago, at Matthew Epstein’s birthday party/concert, he came to me and said, “My dear, I keep hearing that the business needs you back.” I asked how does one fight the nasty internet, and he said to Bu@@er them and to push my way back in. I need him around again to push me into the lion’s den. But he is resting in peace and it is a well-deserved one.
Well said, Stephen! You and Richard helped make OTSL the successful company it is today, and they could certainly benefit from having you both back. RIP Richard.
Echoing Alice Nelson’s sentiments here. I lived in St Louis in the early 2000s and was lucky to in the audience for a string of fine performances,. I particularly remember several with Kelly Kaduce and a great Roméo et Juliette with Frédéric Antoun, Alyson Cambridge, and a very young Kate Lindsey as Stephano. Good memories, those.
Dear, dear Mr. Gaddes:
One of the kindest, most sincere gentlemen in opera… He will be sorely missed.
Richard had a great ear. As founding general director of Opera Theatre of St. Louis, he brought his young discoveries to St. Louis and surrounded them with great directors, costumers, wig makers and importantly voice and. acting coaches. He offered his keen advice and devotion. In the late 1970s when his latest discovery Ashley Putnam was cast by Glyndebourne she quivered with fear at being alone there. He bought her dear friend a plane ticket to London. Just like that, Ashley was ready to shine. He was beloved.
,
.
I met Richard as the assistant to Basil Horsefield, my management colleague in London. When he arrived in New York he called me and said he was looking for a job. I told him that John Crosby was looking for an assistant – the rest is history. When I returned to Canada in August 1977, he called me to come to Sante Fe to work with the students there. As usual, I was housed in a lovely adobe house. In the middle of the night a terrific storm made the walls melt and run down. I was worried about the art works. At 3 am the phone rang with Richard asking if I was ok. I told him about the walls. “Not to worry” he said the walls will dry in the day. As others have said, Richard is a special person and I feel privileged to be one of his best friends. Ann