Jacqueline Dark, beloved opera singer, dead at 55

An award-winning singer and entertainer has died in Sydney at the age of 55 after a long struggle with cancer.

Award-winning Australian opera and music theatre singer Jacqueline Dark has died. She was 55.

Ms Dark died in hospital in Sydney on Tuesday night, the ABC reported.

She had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and had previously undergone surgery and chemotherapy.

Jacqi Dark was a multi-award winning opera singer and beloved performer. Picture: Supplied

Australian tenor Kanen Breen, with whom Ms Dark shared a son, paid an emotional tribute to Ms Dark.

“The love of her life was our boy Xander and, from the moment he existed, she did it all for him,“ Mr Breen said in a statement on Wednesday.

On Facebook, Mr Breen shared heartbreaking details of Dark’s final hours, saying she had pulled off a “Lazarus act” on Tuesday morning to battle the cancer one last time and spend a few more precious moments with her son.

“It (her heart) was standing next to her, in the shape of our boy, and we literally watched as she gave the last of her life to make him happy one last time,” he said.

“She took her last heroic breaths surrounded by profound peace and profound love.”

Jacqui Dark performing in 2021. Picture: Brett Boardman

Ms Dark also appeared in So You Think You Can Dance? and popular panel show Spicks and Specks. Picture: Supplied

Ms Dark was born in Ballarat, Victoria, and spent about 10 years as a maths and physics teacher before becoming a singer, according to The Australian.

Her career saw her perform opera in Australia and around the world, winning multiple prestigious awards in the process.

She came to the attention of more mainstream audiences in appearances on So You Think You Can Dance and as a guest panellist on the popular music quiz show Spicks and Specks.

Ms Dark’s agent Patrick Togher said she had left a powerful legacy in Australian music.

“Jacqui’s magnificent voice and magnetic stage presence entrenched her place in Australia’s musical history; her indefatigably upbeat personality will be long remembered.”

Originally published as Jacqueline Dark, beloved opera singer, dead at 55