Home / Arts and Entertainment / Belgian Opera Legend Jose van Dam Dies at 85
Belgian Opera Legend Jose van Dam Dies at 85
19 Feb
Summary
- Belgian baritone opera singer Jose van Dam passed away at 85.
- He performed with the Metropolitan Opera and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.
- Van Dam was celebrated for his genius in 20th and 21st-century opera.
Belgian baritone opera singer Jose van Dam, a celebrated artist who graced stages like the Metropolitan Opera and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, has passed away at 85. The Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel announced his peaceful death surrounded by loved ones.
For two decades, van Dam served as a master in residence at the music chapel, shaping young vocal talent. His passing marks the loss of Belgium's "greatest ambassador of lyric art" and a legend who significantly impacted opera history.
Born in Brussels in 1940, van Dam began his career in the early 1960s. He gained international acclaim through collaborations with conductor Herbert von Karajan in the 1970s, notably on recordings of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Mozart's Requiem. He also contributed to film versions of operas and sang at royal funerals.
