Recent arts coverage:
- Evolutionary biology. Aesthetic determinism. Live action role playing. The Rude Mechs are making a new play again
- Suburban battlefield: Women fight invisible foe in Amie Siegel’s ‘Black Moon’
- In eerie paintings by Ana Fernandez, a house isn’t just a house
More arts coverage | Follow this blog on Twitter @artsinaustin | Read recent arts reviews
Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2009 > April > 15
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Gina Ducloux: 1923-2009, with husband helped found Austin Lyric Opera
Austin Lyric Opera announced today the passing of Gina Rifino Ducloux, wife of Austin Lyric Opera co-founder, the late Walter Ducloux.
Gina Ducloux passed on April 15 in Newport Beach, California. No cause of death was given.
Walter Ducloux co-found Austin Lyric Opera along with Joseph McClain.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of this Austin icon,” said general firector Kevin Patterson. “Unfortunately I never had the chance to meet Mrs. Ducloux but I’ve heard nothing but wonderful stories about her days with our company and we’re indebted to her and Walter for their generous contributions to ALO and our city.”
Born June 24, 1923, in New Jersey to Carlo and Rose Rifino, Ducloux excelled as a student, musician, singer, pianist, accordionist, linguist and teacher. Growing up, she won numerous scholarships, and began giving operatic vocal recitals as a teenager. Along with her siblings, Al and Anita, she would perform regularly at local events as an accordion trio.
Ducloux attended the University of New Hampshire on voice scholarship, where, as a freshman she met a dashing young professor (and assistant conductor to the NBC Symphony) from Switzerland, Walter Ducloux. They were married 53 years before his death in 1997.
After World War II, the Duclouxs moved to Prague, Czechoslovakia, where they lived from 1945-1948. During this time, they performed throughout Europe in various opera productions, he as conductor and she as a soprano.
They lived in New York in 1948-1954, while Walter served as musical director of the Voice of America. In 1954, they moved to Los Angeles where Walter became head of the University of Southern California symphony and opera departments.
In 1968, at the personal urging of Frank Erwin, the Duclouxs moved to Austin to develop the opera and symphony departments at the University of Texas. In 1986, with the support of the community, they co-founded the Austin Lyric Opera along with Joseph McClain.
Gina Ducloux was a voice teacher and vocal coach, and her high school students regularly took top prizes in UIL vocal competitions. She was regularly invited to teach foreign language musical diction at various conventions, including the annual summer Mozart Festival in Salzburg, Austria, where she taught as recently as 2004.
She is survived by her children, Denise (Dede) Brink, of Newport Beach, California, and Dede’s husband Howard; Claude and wife, Susan; and Philip and wife, Summer; and grandchildren, Simone (and husband Zachary Miner), Christopher, Daniel, Dominique, and Zoe.
An Austin memorial and celebration of her life will be held in Austin at a future date. Memorial gifts may be made to The Austin Lyric Opera Gina Ducloux Memorial Fund.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment Categories: News
Tonight: Erik Michaud lights up Art Palace
In an intriguing variety of media — from video to wood burnings to found object installations — artist Erik Michaud presents enigmatic little tales about nostalgia, youth and a mythical past. Or perhaps its a mythical future? Or an imagined life not lived?
Tonight, Michaud gives a talk about the work in his solo show “The Gates of Dawn” now at Art Palace Gallery, 2109 E. Cesar Chavez St. The talk begins at 8; the gallery is open 7 to 9 p.m. tonight and every Wednesday.
By personalizing mass-produced items like or else transforming detritus with quirky personal touches, Michaud unravels a particularly American yearning for distinction. Aren’t we all supposed to have histories packed with great and fabulous tales?
“The Gates of Dawn” continues through April 29.
Art Palace Gallery
2109 Cesar Chavez
www.artpalacegallery.com
“Blue Sky Hotel” by Erik Michaud.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Visual arts
