Van Dam, José (real name, Joseph Van Damme)

Van Dam, José (real name, Joseph Van Damme), outstanding Belgian bass-baritone; b. Brussels, Aug. 25, 1940. He began to study piano and solfège at 11. He commenced vocal studies at 13, and then entered the Brussels Cons, at 17, graduating with 1^stprizes in voice and opera performance at 18. He subsequently captured 1^stprizes in vocal competitions in Liège, Paris, Toulouse, and Geneva. After making his operatic debut as Don Basilio in II Barbiere di Sivigliain Liège, he gained experience as a member of the Opéra and the Opéra-Comique in Paris (1961-65) and of the Geneva Opera (1965-67). In 1967 he joined the Berlin Deutsche Oper, where he established himself as one of its principal artists via such roles as Figaro, Leporello, Don Alfonso, Caspar, and Escamillo. While continuing to sing in Berlin, he pursued a notable international career. In 1973 he made his first appearance at London’s Covent Garden as Escamillo, a role he also chose for his Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. on Nov. 21, 1975. He was chosen to create the title role in Messiaen’s opera Saint François d’Assiseat the Paris Opéra on Nov. 28, 1983, thereby adding further luster to his reputation. During the 1985-86 season, he appeared as Hans Sachs at the Chicago Lyric Opera. He sang Saint François at the Salzburg Festival in 1992. On Feb. 25,1994, he made his Carnegie Hall recital debut in N.Y. In 1996 he appeared as Philip II in London and Paris. After singing the Dutchman in Rome in 1997, he portrayed Boris Godunov in Toulouse in 1998. He sang Leporello in Paris in 1999. Among his other esteemed roles are Don Giovanni, Verdi’s Attila, Golaud, and Wozzeck. He has also won renown as a concert artist, making appearances with the foremost orchs. of Europe and the U.S.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire