Opera lovers are mourning the death of Nicola Rescigno in Italy. Below is a statement from Jonathon Pell, Director of Artistic Administration at The Dallas Opera. More on the Opera’s blog. And the obituary.

“All of us at The Dallas Opera were truly saddened to hear of Maestro Nicola Rescigno’s death yesterday. Our Co-Founder not only helped to shape the operatic landscape of both Dallas and Chicago, but was instrumental in bringing some of the finest international talent to the United States. Among the many artists who made their US debuts with him were Teresa Berganza, Monserrat Caballé, Maria Callas, Plácido Domingo, Magda Olivero, Dame Joan Sutherland, and Jon Vickers. In addition to his many performances in Dallas and Chicago, Maestro Rescigno also conducted at the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, and some of the most important opera theaters in Italy, including Rome’s Opera House, the San Carlo in Naples and La Fenice in Venice.

“In addition to his performances in the theater, he also made numerous recordings. It is the end of an era. He was a remarkable man, and there certainly would not have been an opera company in Dallas like ours if it had not been for him. Singers loved working with him and he always insisted on maintaining the highest musical standards. “