The artistic team around conductor Leonardo García Alarcón is devastated by the tragic death on stage, Friday evening, of Argentine baritone Alejandro Meerapfel, victim at the age of 54 of a heart attack during the show The Dono della Vita eterna at the Ambronay Festival, where he sang the role of God the Father.
Alejandro Meerapfel was a well-established member for several years of the team of soloists surrounding conductor Leonardo García Alarcón, the Capella Mediterranea and the Namur Chamber Choir.
As such, he came to the Lanaudière Festival this summer and contributed to the already legendary concert of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, last July 22, where he sang the role of Pluto. His solid, good-natured and reassuring vocal presence was a glue to many of García Alarcón’s recording projects: The Orfeo by Monteverdi, Nabucco by Falvetti, Dido and Aeneas by Purcell, where he sang Aeneas, Judas Maccabeus by Händel, the reconstruction of The promise by Draghi and a few others. Several of these projects were born at the Ambronay Festival, a nerve center for the rediscovery of the baroque repertoire for almost fifty years. Antonio Draghi (1635-1700) was also the author of this oratorio, The Dono della Vita eternadepicting the fight between the forces of Heaven and Earth for the salvation of humanity.
“Angel on earth”
During the concert broadcast by France Télévisions on its “Culturebox”, Alejandro Meerapfel collapsed after about an hour of performance, according to witnesses present on site. Firefighters were unable to revive the singer. Psychological support was offered to the artists.
The Ambronay Festival published a press release on Saturday confirming the death: “Dear festival-goers, Dear friends, we are sad to announce that the baritone Alejandro Meerapfel died of a heart attack on stage last night during a concert in the frame of 44e Ambronay Festival. […] He had performed many times in the Ambronay Abbey Church and his sudden disappearance left us in shock. Our thoughts are with his family, his loved ones, the artists of the Cappella Mediterranea and the Namur Chamber Choir, and all those who, like us, feel devastated by the disappearance of a man of inestimable kindness and kindness. an artist whose exceptional modesty and talent will remain in our hearts. »
For Leonardo García Alarcón, “Alejandro was an angel on earth. Before the concert, his smile and good humor filled the souls of the entire artistic team and the Festival. We will miss him but he will be with us forever. »
In a very touching testimony on social networks, Leonardo García Alarcón recounts having met Alejandro Meerapfel in Patagonia, at the age of 16, and having hired him for his first concert, which he directed at the age of 17 . His last words to the unfortunate baritone before entering the stage were: “Go and search with your mind for the stones of this place.”
Alejandro Meerapfel is survived by his wife and two children.