José van Dam: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is José van Dam? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.
Joseph, Baron Van Damme (25 August 1940 – 17 February 2026), known as José van Dam (French: [ʒo.ze.van.dam]), was a Belgian bass-baritone, described as having "a magnificent resonant and expressive voice" and being "an excellent actor". Beginning at the Paris Opera, he made an international career, especially in the French repertoire; Escamillo in Bizet's Carmen was an early signature role that he took to La Scala in Milan and the Royal Opera House in London. He performed the title role of Messiaen's Saint François d'Assise in the 1983 world premiere at the Paris Opera. He performed regularly at the Salzburg Festival and made several recordings with Herbert von Karajan that are regarded as reference recordings. In film, he portrayed Leporello in the 1979 opera film Don Giovanni, directed by Joseph Losey and conducted by Lorin Maazel. He served as master of the singing section at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel from 2004 to 2023.
Quick facts about José van Dam
- Full name: José van Dam
- Born: 1940-08-25
- Nationality: Belgium
- Known as: Musician
- Wikidata ID: Q381927
Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is José van Dam?
Joseph, Baron Van Damme (25 August 1940 – 17 February 2026), known as José van Dam (French: [ʒo.ze.van.dam]), was a Belgian bass-baritone, described as having "a magnificent resonant and expressive voice" and being "an excellent actor".
What nationality is José van Dam?
José van Dam is Belgium.
When was José van Dam born?
José van Dam was born on 1940-08-25.
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