Smash hit

After postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music, he studied conducting with the irascible Hermann Scherchen in Zurich with the help of a two-year Carnegie scholarship.

He has said that one of his few regrets was that he only conducted 25 of Verdi's 28 operas — Alzira, Un Giorno di Regno and Les Vepres Siciliennes eluded him.

Richard Morrison, the chief music critic of The Times, said that the news of the double death was shocking, particularly as Lady Joan was not very old.

"SIr Edward was the great Verdi expert, and really responsible for reviving all the Verdi operas that very few people do. He did tremendous scholarly work in preparing new editions to bring these pieces back into the repertoire.

"He wasn't in the first rank of British conducting, but was one of the great stalwarts who was always there or thereabouts. He never quite got the recognition he deserved. He was a backroom person at the Royal Opera House rather than having an orchestra of his own."

The family statement read: "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our parents Edward and Joan Downes on Friday July 10.

"After 54 happy years together, they decided to end their own lives rather than continue to struggle with serious health problems.

"They died peacefully, and under circumstances of their own choosing, with the help of the Swiss organisation Dignitas, in Zurich.

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

"Our mother, who was 74, started her career as a ballet dancer and subsequently worked as a choreographer and TV producer, before dedicating the last years of her life to working as our father's personal assistant.

"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. “They will be missed by Caractacus, Boudicca, Omar and Zeki, as well as by many family members and friends.”

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