Tribute to Yvonne Naef (1957 - 2025)

With Yvonne Naef, we lose an exceptional artist and teacher who influenced many people over the long term through her art and her commitment to education.

Yvonne Naef has spent much of her life on stage. An internationally renowned mezzo-soprano, she has sung at the greatest opera houses and festivals, including New York's Metropolitan Opera, La Scala in Milan, the Zurich Opera, the Opéra Bastille and the Bayreuth Festival. On stage, her artistic presence unfolded with pronounced authority and clarity. Roles such as Fricka (Die Walküre), Brangäne (Tristan und Isolde), Dido (Les Troyens) or Eboli (Don Carlos) were never mere demonstrations of talent for her, but were brought to life by her particular musicality and creativity. But her influence extended far beyond the stage, manifesting itself as much in her artistic thought as in her pedagogical work and human action.

The music itself was always at the heart of her musical conception. For her, singing was not a simple act of interpretation, but a conscious commitment to the work, the text and every moment. Although she mastered her technique perfectly, she never saw it as something to be emphasized. For her, the essential thing was to open a space for the music and let it act. This was the source of the depth and presence that many found incomparable.

Yvonne Naef was an authority figure. Her presence was clear, impressive and remarkably dense. There was no need for her to assert or add anything. Her relationship to art was marked by modesty, not in the sense of reserve, but as a serious relationship to something greater than oneself.

This attitude also marked her teaching activities. Yvonne Naef worked with the human being as a whole, always with warm attention, both demanding and encouraging, always with a touch of her subtle humor. Sound, speech, body and posture formed an inseparable unity for her. She knew how to guide the body to liberate the voice, and how technique could become a reliable foundation on which to devote oneself fully to the art. Her teaching was not about effect, but about authenticity and fulfillment.

As a teacher, she was very demanding, driven by respect for art and the people in her care. She had a keen eye for their evolution, and accompanied many young singers through the decisive stages of their artistic and personal development.

Yvonne Naef has left her mark on many voices and life paths, and awakened in many a deep understanding of what it means to dedicate oneself to music with dedication and sincerity. For many, she has become a central figure who has contributed to their artistic development and enabled them to gain confidence in their own path.

We will miss her as an artist, teacher and exceptional person. We are grateful∙e∙s for all she gave.

The SSPM mourns the death of Yvonne Naef, who was a loyal member of the association for many years, and who herself obtained her teaching diploma from the SSPM.

Credit: Marco Borggreve