Obituary: Marion Lignana Rosenberg (1962-2013)

A valued voice is silenced too soon.
by Paul J. Pelkonen

Marion Lignana Rosenberg. Photo by Meaghan Donahue.

The entire New York classical music community is mourning the loss of Marion Lignana Rosenberg, who passed away over Thanksgiving weekend while in Albany visiting friends for the holiday. It was reported that the cause of death was a pulmonary embolism. She was 51.



Ms. Rosenberg was an erudite voice in the small community of classical music and opera journalists in New York City. She started with her own blog vilaine file and went on to win an award for her essay Re-Visioning Callas. Published ten years ago on the occasion of La Divina's eightieth birthday, it was a breath of fresh air and scholarship about the most famous soprano of the 20th century.

In recent years, she would write for publications like The Classical Review, Time Out New York and New Music Box and appearing on Sound Check on WQXR. She also blogged for that stations's website, WQXR.Org. 

Other endeavors included award-winning book translations and writing for Time Out New York and New Music Box.

Whether writing about her beloved Maria Callas or contemporary artists, Ms. Rosenberg maintained a passionate love of opera and art music and a sharp pen, writing fair, quick-witted opinion that was valued both by fellow critics and the public.

Her insight will be sorely missed.