UK conductor dies at Dignitas clinic

Renowned British musician Sir prince saint Downes, CBE, has died at the geezerhood of 85, after travelling to right-to-die clinic Dignitas with his wife.

He and his wife Joan, 74, both chose to modify their lives at the land clinic, their kinsfolk said in a statement.

According to the statement, the couple "died peacefully, and low circumstances of their possess choosing".

The Birmingham-born musician enjoyed a 40-year relation with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

"Our father, who was 85 eld old, nearly blindfold and progressively deaf, had a long, vigorous and important occupation as a conductor," his kinsfolk said.

"Our mother, who was 74, started her occupation as a ballet partner and afterward worked as a choreographer and TV producer, before dedicating the last eld of her chronicle to employed as our father's personal assistant.

Health problems

"They both lived chronicle to the full and considered themselves to be extremely serendipitous to hit lived much gratifying lives, both professionally and personally.

"After 54 bright eld together, they decided to modify their possess lives kinda than move to struggle with earnest health problems."

Born in Birmingham on 17 June 1924, the renowned musician began activity the string and string at the geezerhood of five.

His motion of conducting was aided by a two-year scholarship to study in Aberdeen, which led him to study with high Teutonic musician Hermann Scherchen.

In 1952 he joined the Royal Opera where he remained a consort member for 17 years.

He became Associate Music Director in 1991 and conducted a huge repertoire at Covent Garden for over 50 consecutive seasons.

He began his relation with the BBC Philharmonic as Chief Guest Conductor, feat to embellish Principal Conductor from 1980 to 1991 and later Conductor Emeritus.

Honoured

In 1970 he became Music Director of the inhabitant Opera and conducted the first performance in the Sydney Opera House.

He was Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Orchestra until 1983 and travelled widely as a temporary musician to house houses and orchestras every over the world.

Sir prince was worthy by quaternary penalization colleges and fivesome universities as substantially as receiving the Laurence Olivier, Evening Standard, Critics Circle and Royal Philharmonic Society awards.

He became a CBE in 1986 and was knighted in 1991.
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