Edward Downes

This article is about the British conductor. For the American musicologist, music critic and radio personality, see Edward Downes (American musicologist).

Sir
Edward Downes
CBE
Edward Downes in the recording studio, 1971.
Born
Edward Thomas Downes

(1924-06-17)17 June 1924
Birmingham, England
Died10 July 2009(2009-07-10) (aged 85)
Zürich, Switzerland
Other namesTed Downes
Alma materUniversity of Birmingham
Royal College of Music
Known forConducting
Spouse
Joan Weston
​
(m. 1955)​
Children2

Sir Edward Thomas Downes, CBE (17 June 1924 – 10 July 2009), known as Ted Downes, was an English conductor, specialising in opera.

He was associated with the Royal Opera House from 1952, and with Opera Australia from 1970. He was also well known for his long working relationship with the BBC Philharmonic and for working with the Netherlands Radio Orchestra. Within the field of opera, he was particularly known as a conductor of Verdi.

He and his wife, Joan, Lady Downes, committed assisted suicide at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland on 10 July 2009, an event that received significant media coverage.

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