EXCLUSIVE. “In private it's hell”: heavily affected by a virus, Roch Voisine will keep this after-effect for life

During an exclusive interview with Closer, singer Roch Voisine spoke about the serious illness he suffered from, and from which he will never truly recover.

© BESTIMAGE Roch Voisine will be on tour in France in 2025

IN BRIEF

• Singer Roch Voisine confided in Closer about his future tour, but he also spoke about a serious illness he suffered from.
• The Canadian singer explained that he caught an infection that left him after-effects.
• Roch Voisine tells how he had to adapt after the illness.

On the occasion of his tour planned for 2025 for the 35th anniversary of the release of his song Hélène, Roch Voisine confided in Closer about the very particular story of this song, but not only. The Canadian singer also spoke about the reasons why this tour is only taking place in 2025, and not in 2024 as was initially planned. Behind this postponement of the date lies a serious illness from which Roch Voisine still bears the after-effects. “I actually caught a virus, a streptococcus A” he explains to Closer.

According to the Pasteur Institute, streptococcus A is a bacterium that generally causes an infection in the throat and pharynx. For Roch Voisine, this resulted in an attack on his ears. “The eardrum burst, the pain was sharp, I couldn't hear anything anymore. The antibiotic treatment for a month and a half didn't work. An operation was necessary” says the singer. While infections caused by this type of bacteria are, most of the time, relatively benign, things can indeed become complicated.

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Roch Voisine operated on following a serious infection

“The doctors discovered a complication and had to operate on the skull. A major operation. I haven't recovered my hearing 100%. There's little chance I'll ever get it back” he explains. After-effects that can be complicated to manage for a musician. Fortunately, several devices are put in place when singers perform on stage, and these can be adapted to compensate for a possible hearing loss.

“Singers have earpieces on the telescopic sets or on stage to hear the orchestra precisely. I have a new listening system that allows me to continue my work perfectly. But in private, at home, if I want to listen to a symphony orchestra, for example, it's hell, I can't have that pleasure anymore. In the studio either: I've produced or co-produced my 30 albums, I couldn't do it today. It's very hard” regrets Roch Voisine.

Roch Voisine will be on tour in Belgium, Switzerland and France in 2025

Despite these after-effects that he will keep for the rest of his life, the singer is enthusiastic about the idea of ​​covering his hit, Hélène, during his next tour. As a reminder, Roch Voisine will be passing through Belgium, Switzerland and France, and he will perform for more than two hours at the Grand Rex in Paris on April 8, 2025.

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