ASK ALICE: Weekly, from 2003 until 2016/17, Alice McVeigh took on the role of classical music's agony aunt to answer questions on a surprising variety of subjects.
ARTICLES BEING VIEWED NOW:
- Armenia
- November 2022 New Releases - Browse a large selection of new recordings
- February 2023 New Releases - Browse a large selection of new recordings
- Spotlight. An Interesting and Varied Release - Geoff Pearce recommends Hanni Liang's album of piano music by women composers
- January 2022 New Releases - Browse a large selection of new recordings
Dutch contralto Aafje Heynis was born in Krommenie on 2 May 1924, and began singing at the age of four. Her teachers included Aaltje Noordewier-Reddingius and Roy Henderson. She first established a reputation as an oratorio singer, then attracted much attention for her performance of the Brahms Alto Rhapsody with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Eduard van Beinum.
She sang in many performances of Bach's St Matthew Passion, and recorded music by Bach, Brahms, Handel and Mendelssohn for Philips. She was particularly drawn to Mahler, and made a legendary recording of the Symphony No 2 with Haitink and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Many compared her deep voice with that of Kathleen Ferrier.
Aafje Heynis died in Huizen on 16 December 2015, aged ninety-one.