OMEN
07-20-2007, 08:58 AM
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44007000/jpg/_44007716_hadley1_bodyap.jpg
The 55-year-old singer had been in a coma since last week
An American opera singer has died eight days after apparently trying to take his own life by shooting himself with an air rifle, his family have said.
Jerry Hadley, 55 - who was taken off life support earlier this week - died on Wednesday at St Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York State.
The award-winning tenor had reportedly been beset by money and career worries.
Hadley performed at many leading opera houses. In 1991 he sang the lead in Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio.
In 1999 he played the title role in The Great Gatsby at the New York Met, a performance he repeated three years later.
Unconscious
Hadley was found unconscious from a self-inflicted head wound on 10 July at his home near Poughkeepsie, according to state police.
The incident left him with severe brain injuries and he did not regain consciousness, said family spokesperson Celia P Novo.
Born in Illinois, Hadley was recruited to New York City Opera in the late 1970s and went on to perform at the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan and the Glyndebourne and Salzburg Festivals.
Noted recordings included a 1988 version of the musical Show Boat and Leonard Bernstein's 1989 revival of Candide.
BBC
The 55-year-old singer had been in a coma since last week
An American opera singer has died eight days after apparently trying to take his own life by shooting himself with an air rifle, his family have said.
Jerry Hadley, 55 - who was taken off life support earlier this week - died on Wednesday at St Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York State.
The award-winning tenor had reportedly been beset by money and career worries.
Hadley performed at many leading opera houses. In 1991 he sang the lead in Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio.
In 1999 he played the title role in The Great Gatsby at the New York Met, a performance he repeated three years later.
Unconscious
Hadley was found unconscious from a self-inflicted head wound on 10 July at his home near Poughkeepsie, according to state police.
The incident left him with severe brain injuries and he did not regain consciousness, said family spokesperson Celia P Novo.
Born in Illinois, Hadley was recruited to New York City Opera in the late 1970s and went on to perform at the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan and the Glyndebourne and Salzburg Festivals.
Noted recordings included a 1988 version of the musical Show Boat and Leonard Bernstein's 1989 revival of Candide.
BBC