The Israeli born, German-based conductor passed away after collapsing during a performance in Lucerne.

Israeli conductor Israel Yinon has died after collapsing while conducting a performance of Strauss’ Alpine Symphony in Switzerland. The 59-year-old maestro, who was celebrated for his research into works written by composers murdered during the Holocaust, was conducting a Swiss youth orchestra in Lucerne, when he suddenly fell to the ground. Despite attempts by an audience member and paramedics to save the conductor’s life he was pronounced dead upon arriving at hospital. A cause of death is yet to be announced.

Yinon, who was born in Israel but who spent much of his professional life based in Germany, was the first conductor to record the works of Viktor Ullman and was a committed champion of the music of Ernest Bloch, Karol Rathaus and Pavel Haas.

A statement from his daughter, posted in German and Hebrew on her father’s facebook page said that Maestro Yinon had “died doing what he loved best – music.”  The touching memorial continued, “He collapsed during the movement of the Alpine Symphony called ‘on the summit’… So Papa died on the summit, while he was happy. That is a comfort in this great tragedy.”