This is Beirut - Obituary

Famed 'Sponge Cities' Chinese Architect Kongjian Yu Dead in Brazil Plane Crash

This is Beirut, 13:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Obituary Architect Kongjian Yu Accident China Brazil Culture

Chinese landscape architect Kongjian Yu, known for his so-called nature-mimicking "sponge cities," has died in a small plane crash in Brazil with two filmmakers documenting his work, police said Wednesday. The 62-year-old was considered a leading figure in sustainable urban planning; his "sponge cities" replace concrete surfaces with natural ...

Claudia Cardinale, Iconic Italian Actress and Muse of Fellini and Visconti, Dies at 87

This is Beirut, 24/09 09:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Obituary Claudia Cardinal Icon Film Italy France Culture

Sixties screen siren Claudia Cardinale, who died on Tuesday aged 87, entranced audiences across the globe with the sultry gaze that made her the muse of Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini. With her fierce beauty and husky voice, Cardinale not only captivated Italy's greatest filmmakers, but she also played opposite most of the leading men of ...

Maestro Christoph von Dohnányi Dies in Munich Aged 95

This is Beirut, 08/09 13:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Music Obituary Christoph von Dohnanyi Conductor Germany Culture

German conductor Christoph von Dohnányi, hailed as one of the greats of his generation, has died aged 95, public broadcaster NDR said Monday. Dohnanyi, who was long music director of the Cleveland Orchestra, died in Munich "a few days before his 96th birthday", which would have been Monday, NDR said. Dohnanyi was principal conductor of the NDR ...

From Kyoto to the UN: Tea Ambassador Sen Genshitsu Dies at the Age of 102

This is Beirut, 14/08 18:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Obituary Sen Genshitsu Tea Gastronomy Tradition Culture

Sen Genshitsu, who was originally destined to serve as a kamikaze pilot but eventually became a grand master of the Japanese tea ceremony, preparing bowls of matcha for royalty and world leaders died on Thursday at the age of 102, Japanese media reported. With the motto "Peace through a bowl of tea," the grand master of the ancient Urasenke ...

Farewell to a Giant: Latin Music Legend Eddie Palmieri Dies at 88

This is Beirut, 07/08 11:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Obituary Eddie Palmieri Music Legend United States Culture

Eddie Palmieri, who revolutionized Latin music and played a major role in the salsa explosion in New York City, passed away Wednesday at the age of 88, according to the artist's official social media account. The "legendary pianist, composer, bandleader, and one of the most influential figures in Latin music history, passed away in his New Jersey ...

British Opera Tenor David Rendall Dies Aged 76

This is Beirut, 22/07 18:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Opera David Rendall Obituary Britain Culture

Renowned British tenor David Rendall, who performed in some of the world's most famous opera houses during a decades-spanning career, has died aged 76, his family said Tuesday. His death, while surrounded by relatives in southern England on Monday, follows a long illness, their announcement noted. Rendall graced the stages of London's Royal ...

Farewell to Léa Massari, Iconic Actress of French and Italian Cinema

This is Beirut, 25/06 17:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Cinema Actress Léa Massari Obituary Italy Culture

The Italian actress, Léa Massari, celebrated for her roles in L’Avventura and Le souffle au cœur, passed away in Rome, Italian officials confirmed on Wednesday. Lucia Borgonzoni, Italy’s Secretary of State for Culture, paid tribute to “an actress of irresistible magnetism and dazzling talent.” According to the Roman daily Il Messaggero, ...

German Sculptor Guenther Uecker, Known for Nail Artworks, Has Died

This is Beirut, 11/06 19:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Guenther Uecker Obituary Art Sculptor Germany Culture

German sculptor and installation artist Guenther Uecker, best known for his mesmerizing artworks using thousands of nails, has died at age 95. His works, created from the 1950s, saw him hammer nails into furniture, TV sets, canvases and a tree trunk, creating undulating patterns, the illusion of movement and intricate shadow plays. While he ...

Obituary