Antonello Palombi, 58, found dead in German hotel room

By Marcus Bennett

Slippedisc reported that Italian tenor Antonello Palombi, 58, was found lifeless in a German hotel room after failing to attend a Mainz Oper rehearsal; no suspicious circumstances were recorded.

Members of the Mainz Oper ensemble grew alarmed when one of their leading tenors failed to appear. A search of his hotel followed, and he was found lifeless in his room, according to the report.

The unnamed person who informed Slippedisc spoke with Palombi's wife, Gabriela, first, so that the family would know before the news became public. Colleagues then began sharing memories and condolences. Slippedisc also noted that Palombi bore a certain resemblance to Pavarotti in mid-life.

The report did not specify a cause of death, provide further details about the circumstances, or move beyond the statement that no suspicious circumstances had been recorded.

What was Palombi working on when he died?

Colleague Christian Francesconi said Palombi was due to sing Faust in Mefistofele in Craiova. Palombi already held his tickets and was pleased to return to a role he loved and had long wanted to perform again.

Francesconi wrote that Palombi's last message to him arrived on Saturday evening at 23:37. Just two days before his death, Palombi had celebrated with friends and colleagues and discussed another musical production for December with composer Peter Ries.

Composer Peter Ries described Palombi's connection to Mainz and their joint work. He wrote:

Antonello was an extraordinary artist whose remarkable career took him to some of the world’s greatest opera stages, including La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. More recently, he was also a valued member of productions at the Staatstheater Mainz, a place that brought us closer together.

My wife and I first met Antonello in Rome several years ago, where we decided to explore a musical collaboration beyond his classical world — combining his magnificent operatic voice with my atmospheric pop and ambient sounds.

The music accompanying this video is one of our first collaborations, and hearing his voice today is deeply emotional.

Just two days ago, we celebrated together with friends and colleagues, laughing and making plans for another musical production in December. None of us could have imagined that it would be our last evening together.

My deepest condolences go to his wife Gabriela, his daughters, his family, and all those who knew and loved him.

Antonello, thank you for your friendship, your kindness, and the music we shared.

In a message carrying greetings from A.U.R.A. Management and Opera Romana Craiova, colleague Christian Francesconi wrote:

Now that the news has started circulating, I feel compelled to spend a few words on Antonello Palombi. Yes, because even before being an artist, he was a person. And what a person.

Antonello, a tenor of great fame, with whom I had a series of phone calls and messages just a few days ago. The last one was on Saturday evening, at 23:37. A detail that today gives me goosebumps.

He was supposed to come to Craiova to perform Faust in Mefistofele. He already had the tickets, he was happy to come back to sing a role he loved and longed to perform again.

Antonello was a brilliant man, but above all a person of rare sensitivity. He was one of the few who followed my pain for the loss of my father closely. With a delicacy almost timid, but with a consistency I will never forget, he often asked me how I was, without ever making me lack a word of comfort, a message of closeness, a sincere thought.

Our paths crossed through mutual friends, and then we got closer and closer, until these last days, in which, thanks also to the Mefistofele project, I had the opportunity to get to know him even better and deeply appreciate his human qualities.

I am deeply surprised, deeply saddened. I struggle to think that a person with whom I was just a few hours ago talking about projects, music, and the future is no longer with us.

All that remains is the memory of a beautiful person, generous and authentic.

And the regret for everything we could have still shared. A greeting from up there from me, from A.U.R.A. Management, from all of Opera Romana Craiova to you, Antonello, hugging your family tightly.

The unresolved artistic work is specific. Palombi intended to return to Craiova as Faust in Mefistofele, while he and Ries were discussing another musical production for December. The report gave no cause of death and did not say whether either project would proceed.