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 > 2011 > April > 11 > Entry
Daniel Catan, composer, 1949-2011
Daniel Catán, a leading Mexican composer known for his lyrical, romantic operas, died on Saturday in Austin.
No cause of death has been reported. Catáan, 62, was the composer-in-residence at the University of Texas’ Butler School of Music. He was found in his apartment on Saturday. A UT College of Fine Art spokesperson said no foul play was suspected.
In October, the Butler School of Music announced that it had commissioned the composer to write an opera in honor of Austin philanthropists Sarah and Ernest Butler. The opera, “Meet John Doe,” was to be based on the classic 1941 Frank Capra comic drama.
Born in 1949 in Mexico City, Catán was the first Mexican composer to have an opera produced in the United States when the San Diego Opera staged “Rappaccini’s Daughter” in 1994.
Based on its success, in 1996 the Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and Seattle Opera commissioned “Florencia,” the first Spanish-language opera ever commissioned by major United States opera companies.
UT’s Butler Opera Center staged “Rappaccini’s Daughter” in Feburary.
A full obituary to follow.
Comments
When commenting, we ask that you keep things civil and abide by our Visitor Agreement. To report comment abuse, click here.