It is a golden voice and person who left us this Sunday: Jodie Devos, soprano from Lahérie (Neufchâteau), took her last breath after fighting a devastating cancer. The announcement of the sudden disappearance of the young singer shocked everyone from Neufchâteau to Paris, where she was pursuing a famous career. Because although she was only 35 years old, Jodie Devos did not wait to reach the heights of her art. Passionate about singing since her early childhood, she revealed herself to the general public in 2014 by winning Second Prize and the Musiq3 Public Prize at the Queen Elisabeth Competition. “This competition really opened all the doors for me, she explained to us in 2018. There is a before and an after. My life changed in one evening. I was contacted by an agent and I took on large and small roles. Everyone made their contribution, like the director of the Liège opera and the director of the Paris comic opera, who gave me my chance. Before this competition, I was nobody, an unknown coming out of school and he put me in the spotlight.”
The start of a very successful career which has seen her perform in theaters and operas around the world, from La Monnaie (Brussels) to New York, via India, Italy and even Canada and Brasil. And obviously France and Paris, where she had been based for several years. “It’s a waking dreamshe told us, in 2018. I never asked myself any questions, I always wanted to do this job and always go further. What surprises me is how quickly it happened.” This is because Jodie Devos best embodied Corneille’s quote: “Talent does not wait for the number of years”. A talent coupled with a real work force, with the aim of always improving.
Elected Walloon of the year in 2015, winner of an honorary Godefroid, she has released several albums, including her first recital “Offenbach coloratura”, in 2019, which was covered with distinctions. Multiplying different roles always with brilliance and success, Jodie Devos has made a name for herself internationally. Proof of his notoriety in addition to numerous titles, in November 2021, the monthly Opéra Magazine dedicated its cover to him.
Attached to those close to him and to his origins
But the Chestrolaise has never forgotten her journey or her origins. The soprano also considered the Royal Opera of Wallonia-Liège a bit like her home. And she did not hesitate to return to perform in our province when her schedule, often overloaded with numerous projects, allowed it.
Clearly, the soprano is one of those people who success has not changed. Of those great people who can thrill several thousand people one evening, without talking about it the next day, while taking the time to listen to whoever they are talking to with kindness. Remaining attached to her family, her friends and her values, Jodie Devos, with a big heart and passionate about her art, was able to reach the heights by remaining herself. And with the desire to share. In June 2022, she became the godmother of the children trained by the Belgian association REMUA (Network of musicians-workshop speakers). A golden voice and person, whose modesty was matched only by his talent. With her smiling face, she will have embellished the lives of those she has encountered, both professionally and personally. On social networks, the tributes continue to flourish.
On Sunday, thousands of tears were shed over the province of Luxembourg and well beyond, mourning the sudden disappearance of a beautiful star that no one ever imagined would fall. We are left with a voice that has conquered many souls and a smile engraved in the eternity of the great artists who died far too soon. Musiq3 will pay tribute to him over the coming days in its various shows.
From Lahérie to London, his young journey
At just three years old, Jodie Devos was already raising her voice whenever possible. When she was little, she imagined herself becoming a variety singer, before discovering her true love, lyrical singing. After starting her general secondary studies at the Institut Saint-Michel in Neufchâteau, she continued her humanities at Ciney. La Chestrolaise then joined the Higher Institute of Music and Pedagogy (IMEP) in Namur (City of which she became an honorary citizen in 2015). Successfully completed studies. Wanting to put all the strings to her bow, she moved to London, to the prestigious royal academy of music. Jodie Devos succeeds once again, with great distinction. Returning to Belgium, she resumed studies at IMEP to obtain her aggregate. And, alongside school, she launched her career with the musical The melody of happiness, which was a great success. A first success which led to many others.
