Beloved Australian opera singer and theatre star Jacqueline Dark has died at the age of 55.
The multi-award winner died at a hospital in Sydney on Tuesday October 3 after battling a rare form of cancer.
“(Jacqueline) took her last heroic breaths surrounded by profound peace and profound love,” Dark’s partner Kanen Breen posted in an emotional tribute to social media.
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“Xander’s beautiful Mumma, my irreplaceable, infuriating, remarkable Bubby,” he said, “everyone’s favourite colleague.
“She was so many meaningful things to so many wonderful people.”
Born in Ballarat, the mezzo-soprano trained at the Victorian College of the Arts where she received a Graduate Diploma of Opera in 1995.
Dark won multiple awards during her career, including two Helpmann Awards for her roles as Herodias in Opera Australia’s Salome and Fricka in The Ring Cycle.
Darks career took her around the world where she performed in operas, musical theatre and cabaret on some of the worlds most famous stages.
In 2015 she performed as Mother Abbess in the national tour of The Sound of Music.
“Jacqui Dark’s extraordinary talent led her to perform an incredible range of roles on our stages,” Opera Australia said in a statement.
“Jacqui’s many friends at Opera Australia are devastated to hear of her passing, and are today remembering her many outstanding performances, her dedication to her craft and her generosity.”
Dark was due to perform in Sydney Symphony’s Das Rheingold this November and return to Opera Australia in an undisclosed major role in 2024.
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