Cornelis Opthof
Cornelis Opthof | |
---|---|
Born | Rotterdam, Netherlands | February 10, 1930
Died | December 16, 2008 Toronto, Ontario | (aged 78)
Genres | Opera |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Associated acts | Canadian Opera Company |
Cornelis Opthof (February 10, 1930 – December 16, 2008) was a Dutch-born Canadian bass-baritone who sang with the Canadian Opera Company for fifty years, its longest serving member.[1][2]
Biography[]
Opthof was born in Rotterdam in 1930 and immigrated to Canada in 1949 where he studied classical voice with Catharina Hendrikse. In 1957, he was awarded a scholarship at the Royal Conservatory of Music and, in 1959, he made his debut as Alcalde in La forza del destino with the Canadian Opera Company (where he remained a member for fifty years, performing in over 75 productions). He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1976, opposite Joan Sutherland as Riccardo, in I Puritani, having previously sung with her on a number of occasions which included being invited to Australia by Richard Bonynge to tour with his wife.[2]
He made some noteworthy recordings of songs by Arnold Schoenberg with Glenn Gould as an accompanist. He also made a number of opera recordings with Joan Sutherland.[3]
Opthof died in Toronto on December 16, 2008 and was survived by his wife Natalia and their three children.[2]
References[]
- ^ The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "In memoriam Cornelis Opthof (1930–2008)" ( March 22, 2009) The Free Library
- ^ Cornelis Opthof at allmusic
External links[]
- 1930 births
- 2008 deaths
- Canadian opera singers
- Dutch emigrants to Canada
- Musicians from Rotterdam
- 20th-century Canadian singers
- 20th-century opera singers
- Opera singer stubs