Hans Vonk
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- This article is about the conductor. For the South African footballer, see Hans Vonk (footballer).
Hans Vonk (June 18, 1942 - August 29, 2004) was a Dutch conductor, born in Amsterdam, the son of Franciscus Cornelis Vonk and Wilhemina Vonk. His father was a violinist in the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and died when Vonk was age 3. Vonk studied music at the Amsterdam Conservatory and law at Amsterdam University. During this time, he made a living from gigs as a jazz pianist. He later studied conducting with Hermann Scherchen and Franco 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 Chief Conductor of both the Dresden Staatskapelle and the Semper Oper, Dresden. In 1988 he conducted at La Scala in Milan in a revival of Jommelli's Fetonte, but then had to take a year off from conducting after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neurological condition. He appeared to recover and resumed conducting. He became chief conductor of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra 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[1], after Leonard Slatkin, and took up the position in 1996. One criticism of his tenure in Saint Louis was that his focus on music-making was at the expense of connection to the larger city community.[2] 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 Berlioz's Requiem to him after his death.[3] 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[4]. Vonk was regarded as a specialist in the music of Anton Bruckner[5].
[edit] References
- ^ Allan Kozinn, "St. Louis Symphony Names Hans Vonk as Next Director". New York Times, 17 January 1995 (article only available to TimesSelect subscribers).
- ^ Eddie Silva, "Honk If You Love Vonk". Riverfront Times, 15 May 2002.
- ^ Eddie Silva, "In Memoriam". Playbill Arts, 1 November 2004.
- ^ Andrew Clements, "Diepenbrock: The Birds, Marsyas Suite, Three Hymns, Elektra Suite, Die Nacht, Im Grossen Schweigen; Finnie et al". The Guardian, 25 October 2002.
- ^ David Nice, Obituary for Hans Vonk. The Guardian, 1 September 2004.
| Preceded by Ferdinand Leitner |
Chief Conductor, Het Residentie Orkest 1980–1991 |
Succeeded by Yevgeny Svetlanov |
| Preceded by Herbert Blomstedt |
Chief Conductor, Dresden Staatskapelle 1985–1990 |
Succeeded by Giuseppe Sinopoli |
| Preceded by Gary Bertini |
Chief Conductor, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne 1990–1997 |
Succeeded by Semyon Bychkov |
| Preceded by Leonard Slatkin |
Music Director, St Louis Symphony Orchestra 1996–2002 |
Succeeded by David Robertson |
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