Louis Quilico’s sudden death on July 15, 2000 in Toronto, Canada marked the end of an exceptional career that included performances in most of the world’s great opera houses, including nearly 300 appearances at the Metropolitan Opera.

Quilico was one of the leading baritones of his generation. But it was his portrayal as the hunchbacked jester Rigoletto that won him international acclaim and the title “Mr. Rigoletto”. He sang the role more than 500 times – the last was at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa in September 1994.

Retiring from the Metropolitan Opera in 1998 after 25 years singing major roles, Quilico continued to perform, and record with his wife, celebrated concert pianist, Christina Petrowska Quilico,C.M.,FRSC who was recently appointed to the Order of Canada and The Royal Society of Canada. The rich quality of his robust voice was a testament to his own personally devised vocal techniques, which he generously shared with a new generation of singers and recorded in Mr. Rigoletto: In Conversation with Louis Quilico (Captus Press, 1996, 1998), written with Quilico’s wife, acclaimed concert pianist and Professor at York University. Christina Petrowska Quilico. The couple toured extensively in duo recitals and recorded four CDs, including Mr. Rigoletto: My Life in Music on Analekta, two books and a teaching video.