- Hans Vonk (conductor)
Infobox musical artist
Name = Hans Vonk
Background = classical_ensemble
Born = birth date|1942|06|18
flagicon|NLDAmsterdam ,Netherlands
Died = death date and age|2004|08|29|1942|06|18Amsterdam ,Netherlands
Genre = Classical
Occupation = Conductor,pedagogue
Years_active =
Associated_acts =Dresden Staatskapelle
St. Louis SymphonyResidentie Orkest WDR Symphony Orchestra Hans Vonk (
June 18 ,1942 –August 29 ,2004 ) was a Dutch conductor.Vonk was born in
Amsterdam , the son of Franciscus Cornelis and Wilhemina Vonk. His father was a violinist in theConcertgebouw Orchestra , and died when Vonk was age three. Vonk studied piano withJaap Spaanderman at theAmsterdam Conservatory and law atAmsterdam University . During this time, he made a living from gigs as a jazz pianist. He later studied conducting withHermann Scherchen andFranco Ferrara .Vonk debuted as a conductor with the Netherlands National Ballet. He later married the dancer Jessie Folkerts. He also served as assistant conductor with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and associate conductor with the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , London.Vonk held chief conductor positions with the Residentie Orkest (1980-1991) and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1985 to 1990, he was principal conductor of both the
Dresden Staatskapelle and theSemper Oper ,Dresden . In 1988 he conducted atLa Scala in Milan in a revival of Jommelli's "Fetonte", but then had to take a year off from conducting after being diagnosed withGuillain-Barré syndrome , a neurological condition. He appeared to recover and resumed conducting. He became chief conductor of theWDR Symphony Orchestra ,Cologne in 1991.In the USA, he made his first guest appearance with the
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) in 1992. In January 1995, he was appointed the SLSO's music director, afterLeonard Slatkin , and took up the position in 1996. [cite news | author=Allan Kozinn | title=St. Louis Symphony Names Hans Vonk as Next Director | url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60611FC385D0C748DDDA80894DD494D81&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes+Topics%2FPeople%2FS%2FSlatkin%2C+Leonard | work=New York Times | date=17 January 1995 | accessdate=2007-09-03] In 2001, Vonk began to experience muscular weakness, which were not diagnosed to a specific ailment. In 2002, he resigned his position in St. Louis because of these health problems, which were later diagnosed as ALS.Vonk died in his Amsterdam home. The St. Louis Symphony dedicated a program of
Hector Berlioz 's Requiem to him after his death. [cite news | author=Eddie Silva | title=In Memoriam | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/653.html | work=Playbill Arts | date=1 November 2004 | accessdate=2007-09-04] He is survived by his widow, Jessie.His recordings are on the Chandos and Denon labels, among others, and include two CDs of the Dutch composer
Alphons Diepenbrock . [cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=Diepenbrock: The Birds, Marsyas Suite, Three Hymns, Elektra Suite, Die Nacht, Im Grossen Schweigen; Finnie et al | url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/critic/review/0,,818718,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=25 October 2002 | accessdate=2007-09-04] Vonk was regarded as a specialist in the music ofAnton Bruckner . [cite news | author=David Nice | title=Obituary for Hans Vonk | url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/obituary/0,,1294418,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=1 September 2004 | accessdate=2007-09-04]References
External links
*allmusic|41:59096~t1
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