Public Funeral Held for Young Opera Singer

The opera world is mourning the death of Jodie Devos, a 35-year-old Belgian coloratura soprano who died of breast cancer last week. Devos passed away in Paris surrounded by her family.

Driving the news: Jodie Devos, a prominent coloratura soprano from Belgium, died last week of breast cancer. Devos was known for her interpretations of Mozart’s coloratura heroines, as well as those of Rossini, Donizetti, and Verdi. Her career highlights included second place at Belgium’s Queen Elisabeth Competition, recordings with Warner and Alpha Classics, and performances at the Paris Opera and other top opera houses. Her funeral will be held in Namur at the Cathédrale Saint-Aubain.

A little context: Jodie Devos joins a list of prominent opera singers who have died of cancer before their time. In 2020, the Canadian-American soprano Erin Wall, known for her portrayals of Richard Strauss and Mozart heroines, passed away of the disease. In 2017, the baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky died of brain cancer, as well as soprano Arleen Auger in 1993. In 2006, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson also died of breast cancer. May Jodie Devos rest in peace et merci beaucoup pour la belle musique.

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a Dora-nominated soprano, writer and yoga teacher. She has performed and created leading roles with companies including Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Dayton Opera, and Aspen Opera, and is a former member of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists. Currently based in Montreal, she is a doctoral student at McGill University — where she recently received the Wirth Vocal Prize — and editor of Art Song Canada magazine.