“Longtime Aspen Music Festival and School opera program director Edward Berkeley died unexpectedly Saturday,” writes Andrew Travers in Sunday’s (7/18) Aspen Times (CO). “The news was announced from the stage at the Benedict Music Tent on Saturday night moments before a performance of ‘The Magic Flute,’ directed by Berkeley, was to begin. The show went on, dedicated to the director, who was in his 40th season on faculty at the festival…. Berkeley, 76, was found unresponsive by a colleague at home in Aspen late Saturday afternoon…. The cause and manner of death will be determined by an autopsy…. Music Fest president and CEO Alan Fletcher, music director Robert Spano and board chair Michael Klein shared news of Berkeley’s passing on stage and led the audience in a moment of silence before beginning the performance in Berkeley’s honor…. Berkeley directed classics and championed new operas in Aspen, while mentoring generations of emerging singers each summer…. He oversaw rehearsals in his signature shorts, high socks and sneakers and traveled almost exclusively by bicycle in Aspen. Berkeley also was a longtime faculty member at The Juilliard School and prominent theater director in New York…. Berkeley … worked with the New York Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony and Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra.”
Change font size
