José van Dam, Suave and Riveting Opera Star, Dies at 85

José van Dam, the Belgian opera star whose suave, silken voice, persuasive acting and steady work ethic made him one of the most esteemed bass-baritones of his era, died on Tuesday at his home in Croatia. He was 85. The Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, where he held the title of master in residence emeritus, confirmed the death and did not provide a cause.

Across a half-century career he built a wide repertoire, from Mozart and Wagner to Verdi, Strauss, Gounod and Massenet, and embraced less frequently performed works such as Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, Berg’s Wozzeck and Messiaen’s St. François d’Assise, the title role of which he created at its 1983 premiere.

He began with true-bass parts like Méphistophélès and Philip II, later taking on higher-lying baritone roles such as Scarpia, and gradually shifted toward recitals while maintaining a polished, warm tone.

Croatia

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