The world of lyrical music is in mourning. Belgian opera singer Jodie Devos died this Sunday, May 16 at the age of 35 following breast cancer, announced her agency Intermezzo. The soprano, who was “considered one of the most talented operatic artists of her generation,” had recently had to cancel several engagements due to her illness.
Born on October 10, 1988 in Libramont (Belgium), Jodie began singing in choirs at the age of 5. She was revealed to the general public 10 years ago after winning Second Prize and the Musiq3 Public Prize at the 2014 Queen Elisabeth Competition, one of the most prestigious competitions in the world which often ensures that the winners have a brilliant career. of soloist.
“The Competition was an essential trigger. Without the Competition, I would not have met my agents or started auditioning so quickly. I certainly have very good agents who sold me well, but it was the Competition that revealed me as an artist. This Second Prize gave me credibility with theater directors,” she declared to the media La Libre in 2018.
Many rewards
Following this second place in the competition, she joined the Académie de l’Opéra-Comique in Paris and was invited several times to the Paris Opera. As RTBF recalls, she was regularly invited to French stages outside Paris such as Montpellier, Toulon, Limoges, Dijon, Tours, Toulouse, Versailles, Orange and Monte-Carlo.
The versatility of his voice has also allowed him to perform on the biggest international stages, from India to Brazil via the United States, and to collaborate with renowned conductors and directors.
Named Young Talent Artist of the Year 2015 by the International Classical Music Award (ICMA), she was crowned with a Diapason d’or, a Platinum Diamond Opéra Magazine, the Choc Classica and the Gramophone Editor’s Choice thanks to his first solo recital “Offenbach Colorature” (Alpha Classics). She was also nominated for the International Opera Awards for her solo album “Jewels lost”, released in 2022.
The young singer, who was one of the most popular of her generation, was due to perform this summer at the Wallonie Festivals and Gaume Jazz. Based in Paris, she died of devastating cancer in the French capital “surrounded by her family and loved ones”, specifies the press release from her agency.
