board would not give him the money needed to produce a meaningful slate of opera productions. Also in November 2008, Mortier accepted the position of artistic director of the Teatro Real in Madrid. While in New York, he had already commissioned a new opera, Brokeback Mountain, with the American composer Charles Wuorinen and a libretto by Annie Proulx, who wrote the original short story on which it is based. This was one of the projects Mortier took with him to the Teatro Real, and it was completed in 2012. In September 2013, Mortier disclosed publicly his condition of cancer. During the search for his successor, he made controversial comments that he did not know of a fully qualified Spanish candidate to succeed him, and mentioned concerns about the expressed government interference in the choice of successor and their wish to have only a Spanish candidate succeed him. Later that month, following the appointment of Joan Matabosch as the company next's artistic director, Mortier was named artistic advisor of the company. On 28 January 2014, Brokeback Mountain premiered in Madrid. The production had been highly anticipated in the international season, and it was considered also a tribute to Mortier, "and a testament to his tireless support of the artists who work with him." Mortier died of pancreatic cancer in Brussels on 8 March 2014, aged 70. Survivors include his sister Rita and his longtime companion, conductor Sylvain Cambreling. In April 2014, Mortier was posthumously awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in the International Opera Awards 2014. Legacy and honors Honorary doctorate University of Antwerp, Belgium Honorary doctorate University of Salzburg, Austria National medal of honor from Belgium Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1991) French Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres Member of the Academy of Arts of Berlin Golden medal of the Círculo de Bellas Artes of Madrid Created a Baron by the King Albert II of the Belgians 30 May 2007. Publications Dramaturgie d'une passion, 2009. Posthumous 2014, the Gerard Mortier Award was established in his name, to be given biannually, by Opernwelt magazine and the Ring Award, for music theatre. He himself was the first recipient, named just before his death. 2014, Diaghilev Prize, "for his [Mortier's] enormous contribution to the arts and for his outstanding role in the development of musical theatre. The prize money will fund the Russian publication of his book, Dramaturgie einer