News

Sir Colin played a vital role, leading the Royal Opera House Board during and following its major redevelopment in the late 1990’s, ensuring not just that the House would survive but thrive over the years ahead. His appointments of Michael Kaiser and then Tony Hall to lead the administration and Antonio Pappano as Music Director were decisive, as was his determination that ROH should strive for the highest artistic standards, while extending access as widely as possible.

He was born in 1938 and had an early connection to Covent Garden as his father was a wholesaler in the fruit and vegetable market next to the opera house. Southgate attended City of London School before entering the nascent computer technology industry which ultimately led to him leading the electronics giant Thorn and then, after the companies merged, the legendary music recording company EMI. Southgate was knighted in 1992, served on the Court of the Bank of England, was a trustee of the National Gallery and chaired PowerGen. His interests away from the office included owning racehorses, gardening – a clematis called “Sally”, named after his wife, was launched at the Chelsea Flower Show to mark their golden wedding anniversary – as well as opera and ballet.

While at EMI Sir Colin was a regular attendee at Covent Garden and became convinced of the need to open the house up to a wider public. But by the time he was appointed chairman in 1998 there was no house to open. Large scale renovations ensured the building was closed during an almost uniquely difficult time for a company which also faced severe financial, administrative and artistic challenges which included a concerted attempt to disband the orchestra and merge the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet with the ENO. It is therefore unsurprising that the period was marked by a certain amount of turmoil in terms of personnel changes and political pressure, but by the time the house re-opened in 1999 Southgate was widely credited with maintaining the company’s integrity, putting the finances on a more sustainable footing, and extending access to as broad a public as possible.

Southgate himself always said his most significant achievement was the appointment of Antonio Pappano to succeed Sir Bernard Haitink as music director in 2002 having been convinced that Pappano was the right man after seeing him conduct a performance of Verdi’s Don Carlo at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

He was too modest in that claim. As one of his fellow trustees of the time puts it, Colin was the man who saved the Royal Opera House. Although some sort of opera house would of course have survived the turmoil of the late 90’s, Southgate paved the way for the Royal Opera House of today: innovative, accessible and one of the top few houses of the world. He made tough decisions with persuasive clarity and warmth. He knew everyone's name - stars, stagehands, doorkeepers, young dancers and members of the chorus, and he led the whole House through the financial storms of the late 1990’s with great flair and assured judgement.

Tony Hall says ‘He was a big man in every way, and a passionate believer in the Royal Opera House and the place it should play in the lives of as many people as possible. His acuity, drive, warmth and humour were all reasons I so enjoyed working for him. We all owe him so much.’

Antonio Pappano adds ‘Colin was a giant of the music industry embracing all genres, with an enthusiasm of a fan for all the artists. He was a dear friend to me personally, and to the Royal Opera House which he helped to shape 25 years ago.’

His exceptional contribution to the Royal Opera House will be celebrated in due course. For now, all our thoughts are with his wife Sally and family.’