Baritone Alejandro Meerapfel died on stage of a heart attack at the Ambronay festival

Argentinian baritone Alejandro Meerapfel died of a heart attack on Friday evening while performing on stage at the Ambronay (Ain) baroque music festival, where the show was interrupted and the audience evacuated, it was announced. learned from firefighters and organizers.

“A 54-year-old man, a member of the troupe on stage, died after falling ill during a performance,” the Ain Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (Sdis) said on Saturday.

This is the Argentinian baritone Alejandro Meerapfel. “His sudden disappearance leaves us in shock”reacted in a press release the management of the Ambronay Cultural Meeting Center which welcomes “a man of inestimable kindness and an artist whose exceptional modesty and talent will remain in our hearts.”

A regular at Ambronay

“Renowned baritone, Alejandro was a very long-time companion of the Argentine conductor Leonardo García Alarcón and the soprano Mariana Flores. He had performed on numerous occasions in the Ambronay Abbey”, indicates the press release.

The Cappella Mediterranea ensemble and the Namur Chamber Choir were on stage in the abbey under the direction of Leonardo García Alarcón for a performance of the oratorio The Dono della Vita eterna by Antonio Draghi, when the artist, who sang the role of God the father, felt unwell. The show was broadcast by France Télévisions on Culturebox.

Emergency services intervened and “the public was quickly evacuated and a request for possible psychological support for the troupe was also sent to center 15”specifies Sdis.

The Ambronay festival, which is one of the major European baroque events each year, is holding its 44th edition from September 15 to October 8.