Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

 

Vocal

 

Aafje Heynis was a Dutch contralto singer who was born on May 2, 1924, in Krommenie, Netherlands. She was the youngest of six children and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a church organist, and her mother was a choir singer. Heynis started singing in the church choir at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Heynis received her formal music education at the Amsterdam Conservatory, where she studied under the guidance of Bodi Rapp. She made her debut in 1948 at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, where she performed Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Her performance was well-received, and she quickly gained recognition as a talented singer. Heynis became known for her rich, warm contralto voice, which was well-suited for the works of Bach, Handel, and other Baroque composers. She also had a talent for interpreting lieder and art songs, and her performances of Schubert's Winterreise and Mahler's Kindertotenlieder were particularly acclaimed. Heynis performed extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and she was a regular guest at the Salzburg Festival. She also made several recordings, including a highly-regarded set of Bach cantatas with conductor Gustav Leonhardt. Heynis received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including the Order of Orange-Nassau in 1961 and the Dutch Music Prize in 1965. She was also made a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 1976. Heynis retired from performing in 1983, but her recordings continue to be admired by classical music enthusiasts around the world. She passed away on December 16, 2015, at the age of 91. Heynis was known not only for her exceptional vocal talent but also for her humility and dedication to her craft. She once said, "I am not a star. I am a singer who loves to sing." Her legacy as one of the greatest contraltos of the 20th century continues to inspire new generations of classical music lovers.

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