GOURDON, France – Authorities investigating the July 19 death of Barbara Weldens while performing at the Festival Leo Ferre held at the Church of Notre Dame des Cordeliers cited an autopsy that confirmed electrocution as the cause of death. Local reports indicated that about 200 people had been attending the concert, and that no other injuries were reported.
Nicolas Septe, prosecutor for the republic based in nearby Calhors, France, also ruled out stormy weather at the hilltop church as a potential factor, noting that the electrical malfunction that occurred there could have killed the barefoot singer on a clear and cloudless night.
Weldens, 35, had just received a standing ovation for the second-to-last song in her show from the audience when she appeared to suddenly leap from the stage and fall at the foot of the crowd.
Festival organizer Christian Martinon noted in local reports that it took a moment for everyone to realize that this was not a part of the act, but then it became quickly apparent that the singer was in cardiac arrest. Efforts to revive the artist failed.
Weldens, who had said on her website that she grew up traveling in a circus and often performed barefoot, had released her debut album, Le grand H de l’homme, in February 2017 after winning the young talent award at the Jacques Brel festival and the Pic D’Or prize last year.
Authorities handling the case declined at press time to identify the people or company that might have been responsible for the electrical malfunction, but noted that their investigation in a possible manslaughter case would proceed, starting July 31.
