The Stage

Conductor Edward Downes commits assisted suicide in Switzerland

Published Tuesday 14 July 2009 at 13:27 by Michael Quinn

Sir Edward Downes, one of the leading British conductors of his generation, has died after taking his own life at the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland.

With his sight almost gone and his hearing severely impaired, Downes, 85, and his 74-year-old wife and former choreographer and television producer Joan committed assisted suicide in Zurich on July 10.

A much-admired champion of British music, Downes forged a significant relationship with the Royal Opera House across half a century, conducting 950 performances of 49 operas at the Covent Garden venue. He was a noted interpreter of Verdi and Prokofiev.

In 1970 he was appointed Australian Opera’s first music director and conducted the opening performance in Sydney Opera House. At the time of his death he was conductor emeritus with the BBC Philharmonic.

He was knighted for services to music in 1991.

A family statement said: “After 54 happy years together, they decided to end their own lives rather than continue to struggle with serious health problems. They both lived life to the full and considered themselves to be extremely lucky to have lived such rewarding lives, both professionally and personally”.