Lourdes Ambriz, Mexican soprano and singing voice of Belle in 'Beauty and the Beast,' dies at 64

Lourdes Ambriz, the famed Mexican soprano and the singing voice of Belle in the Spanish version of "Beauty and the Beast," has died at the age of 64.

The National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) confirmed Ambriz's death on their social media accounts, saying they "express our deepest condolences to her family, colleagues, and the artistic community for this irreparable loss".

Ambriz died Aug. 28. The official cause of her death was not immediately known, but local media reported it was due to cancer.

Ambriz was the singing voice for the 1991 Spanish version of the "Beauty and the Beast".

She was a key figure in Mexican opera and was known for her extensive repertoire that included opera, oratorio, chamber music, renaissance, and contemporary music.

Her career spanned more than four decades, performing on stages across Europe. America, Africa and the Middle East.

Ambriz was a member of the artistic group Cantantes Solista de Bellas Artes and received the Bellas Artes Medal in Music in 2023, the highest distinction awarded by the INBAL, for her contributions to music.

She was a soloist with the Dallas and San Francisco orchestras, the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Canada, the Simón Bolívar Orchestra of Venezuela, the Deutsche Kammerakademie, the Prague Opera and the Arditti Quartet.

Ambriz was the artistic director of the Bellas Artes Opera and taught singing at the School of Fine Arts at the Universidad Panamericana.