Mark Owen Lee, also known as M. Owen Lee and Father Owen Lee (May 28, 1930 – July 25, 2019), was an American-Canadian classics and music scholar and Roman Catholic priest.
M. Owen Lee | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 May 1930 Detroit |
| Died | 25 July 2019 (aged 89) Toronto |
| Alma mater | |
Lee was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on May 28, 1930, to Robert Leo Lee and Helen (née Miller) Lee.
Father Lee was a member of the Basilian Fathers (C.S.B.) from 1951. He was the first person to be awarded a PhD in classics at the University of British Columbia (in 1960), a professor emeritus of classics at the University of Toronto, a holder of four honorary degrees, and an author of more than 20 books on various subjects, such as opera, Richard Wagner, and Der Ring des Nibelungen.[1][2]
Lee was also active as a commentator on musical topics. He was especially well known for his many contributions as intermission commentator, pianist, and quiz panelist on the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts.[3]
Lee died in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada on July 25, 2019, at the age of 89.[2]
Major writings
edit- Word, Sound, and Image in the Odes of Horace (University of Michigan Press, 1969)
- Fathers and Sons in Virgil's Aeneid (SUNY Press, 1979)
- Wagner's Ring: Turning the Sky Round (Summit Books, 1990)
- First Intermissions (Oxford University Press, 1995)
- The Olive-Tree Bed and Other Quests (University of Toronto Press, 1997)
- Wagner: The Terrible Man and his Truthful Art (University of Toronto Press, 1999)
- A Book of Hours (Continuum Press, 2004)
- The Great Instrumental Works (Amadeus Press, 2005)
- The Best Films of Our Years (Authorhouse, 2007) ISBN 978-1-4259-9620-8
- Athena Sings: Wagner and the Greeks (University of Toronto Press, 2003)
- Wagner and the Wonder of Art: An Introduction to Die Meistersinger (University of Toronto Press, 2007)
- A Season of Opera: From Orpheus to Ariadne (University of Toronto Press, 1998)
References
edit- ^ Berger, William (1998). Wagner Without Fear: Learning to Love-And Even Enjoy-Opera's Most Demanding Genius. Vintage Books. pp. 316, 394–397. ISBN 9780375700545.
- ^ a b Barron, James (July 26, 2019). "M. Owen Lee (Father Lee to His Met Opera Radio Fans) Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ Scott, Iain. "Father Owen Lee Archive in Memoriam". Father Owen Lee Archive in Memoriam. Retrieved 29 January 2022.