Conductor, wife end lives at Swiss clinic

Renowned British conductor Edward Downes and his wife Joan have ended their lives at the Dignitas assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland, their children said in a statement.

"After 54 happy years together, they decided to end their own lives rather than continue to struggle with serious health problems," said the statement, released through Downes's agent.

"They died peacefully, and under circumstances of their own choosing, with the help of the Swiss organisation Dignitas, in Zurich," it said, adding that they died on Friday.

"Our father, who was 85 years old, almost blind and increasingly deaf, had a long, vigorous and distinguished career as a conductor.

"They both lived life to the full and considered themselves to be extremely lucky to have lived such rewarding lives, both professionally and personally. Our parents had no religious beliefs and there will be no funeral."

Downes, born in Birmingham, England, took up the violin at a young age and, after postgraduate studies, pursued a career in music.

An association of more than 50 years with London's Royal Opera House began in 1952, and his first job was as prompter to soprano Maria Callas in Bellini's "Norma".

Downes made his conducting debut for the company in 1953 and his last conducting performances at Covent Garden were in 2005 with 10 performances of Verdi's "Rigoletto".

In total, he conducted 49 operas and 950 performances at the Royal Opera House, where he worked with some of the great singers of his generation including Luciano Pavarotti.

Downes also worked with Australian Opera and enjoyed a long relationship with the BBC Philharmonic orchestra.

He was knighted in 1991.

A former ballet dancer, choreographer and television producer, Joan Downes dedicated the last years of her life to working as her husband's personal assistant. She was believed to have been suffering from cancer.