Note Generali

Canadian tenor Gary Rideout, an opera singer who performed on stages around the world, has died.

The New Brunswick-born singer died Sept. 29 after a brief, unexpected illness. He was 55.

"He had incredible humour and was a brilliant performer and a good friend," Rideout's manager, Scott George, told the Sarasota Herald Tribune newspaper.

Rideout received his voice training in Toronto and Michigan.

Though he made his U.S. singing debut in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera in 1988, he soon transitioned into the international world of opera and performed around the world, including in St. Petersburg, Russia; Tel Aviv; Adelaide, Australia; Strasbourg, France; San Francisco; and New York.

A recent album release of the State Opera of South Australia’s 2004 Ring Cycle features Rideout singing the lead role in Wagner's  Siegfried.

His repertoire also included roles in operas by Beethoven, Puccini, Strauss and Benjamin Britten.

He had been scheduled to perform in Europe, Israel and Quebec in the coming months.

The tenor is survived by sister Vanda Rideout and brother Neil Rideout.

According to his official website, memorial concerts celebrating his life are being planned for this winter in Sarasota, Fla., where he lived for the past four years, and his hometown of Hartland, N.B.