In Memoriam: José van Dam

It is with unspeakable emotion and profound sadness that the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel announces the passing of its beloved Master in residence Emeritus, José van Dam, this February 17th, 2026. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones.

Belgium loses its greatest ambassador of lyric art; the world loses a legend who, through his genius, marked the history of opera in the 20th and 21st centuries. The Music Chapel loses above all a mentor, a father figure, and an inexhaustible source of artistic integrity.

A condolence book is available in the entrance hall of the Music Chapel for all those who wish to pay a final tribute to our Maestro.

An online version is also accessible below to share a message, a memory, or a few words, wherever you may be.

On March 9th, a farewell ceremony will be held for José van Dam.

To allow all those who wish to pay tribute to his memory and his immense career, a farewell ceremony will be held on Monday, March 9th, at 11:00 AM at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels. This moment of reflection will be an opportunity to gather around his memory in dignity and music.

Participating in this tribute will be the Choir and Symphony Orchestra of La Monnaie–De Munt, the Flagey Academy, Artists in residence of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, as well as friends and stage partners of the Maestro.

©Nomi Baumgartl

A Voice for Eternity

From the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie to the Metropolitan Opera in New York, from La Scala in Milan to the legendary films Don Giovanni and The Music Master, José van Dam was present wherever music demanded authenticity. His career, spanning over sixty years, was a reflection of a rare alliance between vocal perfection and absolute intellectual fidelity to the score. Whether embodying the monumental Saint François d’Assise or delivering his unforgettable interpretations of Don Quichotte, José never sang for the applause, but always for the truth of the character.

The Master

Beginning in 2004, José linked his destiny to that of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel at the request of Bernard de Launoit and Bernard Foccroulle. As the founder and Master in residence of the voice section, José van Dam did not merely teach: he passed on a torch. For generations of young talent, he was the guide who taught them that technique is only the instrument at the service of the text, both musical and literary. His exceptional pedagogical and artistic merits were widely recognized, notably by the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, which awarded him the title of Maestro Honoris Causa in 2004.

His presence within the Music Chapel conferred an aura of serenity and discipline. He was a Master in the noblest sense of the term: demanding yet generous, always in search of that excellence which lies at the heart of the institution’s mission. Even after passing the baton in 2023 to Stéphane Degout and Sophie Koch, he remained, as Master Emeritus, a compass for our institution.

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The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Masters and Artists in residence, and the entire team of the Music Chapel bow before this giant of music. Our thoughts are with his family, his loved ones, and the countless singers around the world whom he considered his musical children.

We will cruelly miss his voice, his subtle humour, and the serene gaze he cast upon the rising generation. But in every note that resonates at the Music Chapel, the echo of his mastery will continue to vibrate.

Thank you, Maestro.