Role

:

Conductor  

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

Harry van der Kamp is a renowned Dutch bass singer and conductor, known for his exceptional performances in the field of classical music. Born on August 30, 1952, in Hengelo, Netherlands, van der Kamp grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a church organist, and his mother was a singer. As a child, van der Kamp was exposed to music from an early age and showed a keen interest in singing. Van der Kamp began his formal music education at the Twente Conservatory in Enschede, where he studied voice and choir conducting. He later continued his studies at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam, where he received his diploma in solo singing. During his studies, van der Kamp was already performing as a soloist in various concerts and operas. In 1977, van der Kamp joined the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, founded by the renowned conductor and harpsichordist Ton Koopman. He became a regular member of the ensemble and performed with them for over 20 years. During this time, van der Kamp also collaborated with other leading conductors and ensembles, including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Academy of Ancient Music, and the Collegium Vocale Gent. Van der Kamp's repertoire includes a wide range of music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, including works by Bach, Handel, Monteverdi, and Purcell. He is particularly known for his performances of Bach's cantatas and Passions, which he has recorded several times. Van der Kamp's voice is characterized by its warm, rich tone and its expressive phrasing, which bring out the emotional depth of the music. In addition to his work as a singer, van der Kamp is also a respected conductor and teacher. He has conducted numerous choirs and orchestras, including the Netherlands Chamber Choir, the Netherlands Bach Society, and the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra. He has also taught at several music conservatories, including the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Van der Kamp has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1993, he was awarded the Dutch Music Prize, the highest honor for a musician in the Netherlands. He has also been awarded the Edison Classical Music Award, the Diapason d'Or, and the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik for his recordings. Some of van der Kamp's most memorable performances include his rendition of Bach's St. Matthew Passion with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, which was recorded and released on DVD. He has also performed Handel's Messiah with the Academy of Ancient Music, which was broadcast on BBC television. In 2017, van der Kamp performed in a production of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo at the Dutch National Opera, which received critical acclaim. Van der Kamp continues to perform and record music, and his contributions to classical music have been widely recognized. He is regarded as one of the leading bass singers of his generation and a true ambassador of early music.

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