Ria Bollen: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m clean up, typo(s) fixed: 631-2 → 631–2
fix CS1 and lint errors; link tweaks. esp. {{ill}}; unwarranted translation "Untergang" to "Downfall".
 
(17 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Dutch alto}}
{{short description|Dutch contralto (born 1942)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox person
[[File:Ria Bollen.jpg|thumb|<center>Ria Bollen in 2010</center>]]
| name = Ria Bollen

| image = Ria Bollen.jpg
'''Ria Bollen''' (born 11 February 1942) is a [[Flanders|Flemish]] [[contralto]], who had an international career as a concert singer between 1965 and 1992.
| caption = Ria Bollen in 2010
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|02|11|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Sint-Truiden]], Belgium
| education = [[Royal Conservatoire Antwerp]]
| occupation = [[Contralto]]
| organizations =
}}
'''Ria Bollen''' (born 11 February 1942) is a Flemish [[contralto]], who had an international career as a concert singer between 1965 and 1992. Her broad repertoire included Bach's Passions, Mozart's [[Requiem (Mozart)|Requiem]], Beethoven's [[Missa solemnis (Beethoven)|Missa solemnis]], especially works by [[Gustav Mahler]] and works of the 20th century. She was the soloist in the world premiere of Frank Martin's [[Requiem (Martin)|Requiem]]. She sang many art songs, including by Belgian composers.


== Life ==
== Life ==
Born in [[Sint-Truiden]], after her classical humanities, she started to study psychology, but after two years she gave up that study. She went to the [[Royal Conservatoire Antwerp]] in Antwerp to study singing with [[Lucie Frateur]].<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Robijns |first1=J. |last2=Mostaert |first2=J. M. |title=Bollen, Ria |encyclopedia=Algemene muziek encyclopedie |date=1979}}</ref> She would continue to accompany her throughout her career. She graduated in 1968 with the [[Cum laude#Cum laude in Flanders|major distinction]]. But she also studied with [[Pierre Bernac]], [[Felix de Nobel]], [[Erik Werba]] and [[Christa Ludwig]].
Born in [[Sint-Truiden]],<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /> Bollen a school of classical humanities, and then studied psychology. After two years, she studied voice at the [[Royal Conservatoire Antwerp]] with {{ill|Lucie Frateur|nl}},<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Robijns |first1=J. |last2=Mostaert |first2=J. M. |title=Bollen, Ria |encyclopedia=Algemene muziek encyclopedie |date=1979}}</ref> who accompanied her throughout her career. She graduated in 1968 with the [[Cum laude#Cum laude in Flanders|major distinction]]. She also studied with [[Pierre Bernac]], {{ill|Felix de Nobel|nl}}, [[Erik Werba]] and [[Christa Ludwig]].


She made her debut as a [[Solo (music)|soloist]] before graduating, in 1965, in ''[[Godelieve (opera)|Godelieve]]'' by [[Edgar Tinel]] conducted by [[Léonce Gras]].<ref>After her debut, she sang only one operatic role, that of Geneviève in Debussy's ''[[Pelléas et Mélisande (opera)|Pelléas et Mélisande]]'' in a production of [[La Monnaie]] Theatre in November–December 1973; see [http://carmen. lamonnaie.be/pls/carmen/carmen3.production show?t=2&vid=210326&id=-1&sid=-1 this webpage] of the Munt.</ref> Also before she graduated, she obtained the first prize of the Maria Canalswedstrijd in Barcelona, in 1967. Later, she was laureate of four more prestigious competitions: the [[International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch]] (1968), the "[[ARD International Music Competition]]" (1969), the "Concours international d'exécution musicale de Genèva", in which she won first prize (1970), and the "Internationaler Wettbewerb für Gesang" of the "Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien", better known as the [[Wiener Musikverein]] (1972).
She made her debut as a soloist in 1965, in the opera ''{{ill|Godelieve (opera)|nl|lt=Godelieve}}'' by [[Edgar Tinel]] conducted by {{ill|Léonce Gras|nl||fr}}.<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens" /><!--After her debut, she sang only one operatic role, that of Geneviève in Debussy's ''[[Pelléas et Mélisande (opera)|Pelléas et Mélisande]]'' in a production of [[La Monnaie]] Theatre in November–December 1973; see [http://carmen.demunt.be/pls/carmen/carmen.cstart2?t=3&id=-1&sid=-1 this webpage] of the Munt.</ref>--> Also before she graduated, she obtained the first prize of the Maria Canalswedstrijd in Barcelona, in 1967. She was laureate of four more prestigious competitions: the [[International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch]] (1968), the [[ARD International Music Competition]] (1969), the [[Geneva International Music Competition]], in which she won first prize (1970), and the "Internationaler Wettbewerb für Gesang" of the "Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien", better known as the Vienna [[Musikverein]] (1972).


Her repertoire was extensive. She sang works with orchestra or chamber orchestra from
Her repertoire was extensive. She sang works with orchestra or chamber orchestra from
*the [[Baroque music]]: [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]], ''Motet pour une longue offrande''; [[Antonio Vivaldi]]'s ''Gloria'' and Johann Sebastian Bach's, ''[[Matthäus-Passion]]'' and ''[[St John Passion]]'', ''Hohe Messe'', a number of [[cantata]]s;
*the [[Baroque music]]: [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]], ''Motet pour une longue offrande''; Vivaldi's [[Gloria (Vivaldi)|Gloria]] and Bach's ''[[St Matthew Passion]]'' and ''[[St John Passion]]'', [[Mass in B minor]], and a number [[List of Bach cantatas|of cantatas]];
*The [[Classical music]]: [[Joseph Haydn|Haydn]], Masses; Mozart's, ''[[Requiem (Mozart)|Requiem]]''; Beethoven's, ''[[Missa Solemnis (Beethoven)|Missa Solemnis]]'' and [[Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)|Symphony No. 9]];
*The [[Classical music]]: masses by [[Joseph Haydn]], Mozart's [[Requiem (Mozart)|Requiem]], Beethoven's [[Missa solemnis (Beethoven)|Missa solemnis]] and [[Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)|Ninth Symphony No. 9]];
*The [[Romantic music]]: Berlioz's, ''[[Les Nuits d'été]]''; [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]], ''Altrhapsodie''; and especially [[Gustav Mahler|Mahler]], of whom she sang almost the entire repertoire for alto and orchestra: ''[[Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen]]'', ''[[Des Knaben Wunderhorn]]'', the ''[[Rückert-Lieder]]'', ''[[Kindertotenlieder]]'', ''[[Das Lied von der Erde]]'' and [[Symphony No. 2 (Mahler)|Symphony No. 2]]'', [[Symphony No. 3 (Mahler)|3]] and [[Symphony No. 8 (Mahler)|8]];
*The [[Romantic music]]: ''[[Les nuits d'été]]'' by Berlioz, ''[[Alto Rhapsody|Altrhapsodie]]'' by Brahms, and especially works by [[Gustav Mahler]], whose entire repertoire for alto and orchestra she performed: ''[[Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen]]'', ''[[Des Knaben Wunderhorn]]'', ''[[Rückert-Lieder]]'', ''[[Kindertotenlieder]]'', ''[[Das Lied von der Erde]]'', [[Symphony No. 2 (Mahler)|Symphonies No. 2]], [[Symphony No. 3 (Mahler)|3]] and [[Symphony No. 8 (Mahler)|8]];
*the [[20th-century classical music|20th century]]: [[Paul Hindemith|Hindemith]], ''Die junge Magd''; Honegger's ''[[Le Roi David]]'' and ''[[Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher]]''; [[Leoš Janáček|Janáček]], ''Glagolitic mass''; [[Igor Markevich|Markevich]], ''Le paradis perdu''; Prokofiev's, ''[[Alexander Nevsky (Prokofiev)|Alexander Nevsky]]'' (the cantata); [[Ottorino Respighi|Respighi]], ''Il Tramonto''; [[Erik Satie|Satie]], ''Socrate''; [[Igor Stravinsky|Stravinsky]], ''[[Requiem Canticles]]''; [[Michael Tippett|Tippett]], ''A Child of Our Time''; [[Wladimir Vogel|Vogel]], ''Wagadus Downfall durch die Eitelkeit''. She has a special predilection for the work of [[Frank Martin (composer)|Frank Martin]], who asked her to sing the alto solos in the creation of his ''Requiem'',<ref name="Première">Martin's ''Requiem'' was created on 4 May 1973 in Lausanne Cathedral. The composer himself conducted the [[Orchestre de la Suisse Romande]], the choirs Ars Laeta (Lausanne), Union chorale & Chœur de dames de Lausanne, the organist [[André Luy]], and the soloists Elisabeth Speiser (soprano), Ria Bollen (alto), Eric Tappy (tenor), and Peter Lagger (bass).</ref> And of whom she also sang just about everything Martin wrote for her voice type.
*the [[20th-century classical music|20th century]]: [[Paul Hindemith|Hindemith]], ''Die junge Magd''; Honegger's ''[[Le Roi David]]'' and ''[[Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher]]''; [[Leoš Janáček|Janáček]], ''[[Glagolitic Mass|Glagolitic mass]]''; [[Igor Markevitch]]'s ''Le paradis perdu''; Prokofiev's, ''[[Alexander Nevsky (Prokofiev)|Alexander Nevsky]]''; [[Ottorino Respighi|Respighi]]'s ''Il tramonto''; Satie's ''[[Socrate]]''; Stravinsky's, ''[[Requiem Canticles]]''; [[Michael Tippett|Tippett]], ''A Child of Our Time''; [[Wladimir Vogel]]'s ''Wagadus Untergang durch die Eitelkeit''.


Bollen has a special predilection for the work of [[Frank Martin (composer)|Frank Martin]], who asked her to sing the alto solo in the world premiere of his [[Requiem (Martin)|Requiem]],<ref name="Premiere">Martin's Requiem was created on 4 May 1973 in Lausanne Cathedral. The composer himself conducted the [[Orchestre de la Suisse Romande]], the choirs Ars Laeta (Lausanne), Union chorale & Chœur de dames de Lausanne, the organist [[André Luy]], and the soloists Elisabeth Speiser (soprano), Ria Bollen (alto), Eric Tappy (tenor), and [[Peter Lagger]] (bass).</ref> She performed almost everything that Martin composed for her voice type.
Her song repertoire, which she often performed with pianist [[Jozef De Beenhouwer]], was also very extensive, ranging from [[Henry Purcell|Purcell]] to contemporary composers. It would be pointless to mention individual songs, but the following works (cycles or songs often performed as such) give an idea of her lieder art: Brahms' ''[[Zigeunerlieder (Brahms)|Zigeunerlieder]]'' and ''Vier ernste Gesänge'', Dvořák's ''[[Gypsy Melodies]]'', [[Robert Schumann|Schumann]]'s ''Frauenliebe und -leben'', Vogel's ''5 Lieder nach Texten von [[Nelly Sachs]]'' and Wagner's ''[[Wesendonck Lieder]]''. It is also worth mentioning that she had the complete songs of [[Clara Schumann]] in her repertoire.


Besides the large repertoire, she also sang many works by Belgian composers, such as [[Peter Benoit]], [[René Defossez]], [[Jef Van Hoof (composer)|Jef Van Hoof]], [[Marinus de Jong]], [[Willem Kersters]], [[Lodewijk Mortelmans]], [[Lodewijk Mortelmans]], [[Flor Peeters (organist)|Flor Peeters]] and [[David Van de Woestijne]].
Her song repertoire, which she often performed with pianist [[Jozef De Beenhouwer]], was also very extensive, ranging from [[Henry Purcell|Purcell]] to contemporary composers. She performed ''[[Zigeunerlieder (Brahms)|Zigeunerlieder]]'' and ''[[Vier ernste Gesänge]]'' by Brahms, [[Antonín Dvořák|Dvořák]]'s ''Gypsy Songs'', Schumann's ''[[Frauenliebe und -leben]]'', [[Wladimir Vogel]]'s ''5 Lieder nach Texten von [[Nelly Sachs]]'' and Wagner's ''[[Wesendonck Lieder]]'', among others. She also sang many works by Belgian composers, such as [[Peter Benoit]], {{ill|René Defossez|nl}}, [[Jef van Hoof]], [[Marinus De Jong]], [[Willem Kersters]], [[Lodewijk Mortelmans]], [[Lodewijk Mortelmans]], [[Flor Peeters]] and {{ill|David Van de Woestijne|nl}}.


She performed in Israel, Japan, Canada and the Soviet Union, but of course mainly in Western Europe, and particularly in the German-speaking part, alongside Belgium and the Netherlands. She sang in many festivals, such as the [[Festival of Flanders]], the Berliner Festwochen, the Wiener Festwochen, the Carinthischer Sommer and the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart. She made studio recordings for radio and television in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, France, Luxembourg and Switzerland and could be heard in a large number of well-known and less well-known concert halls throughout Western Europe.
She performed in Israel, Japan, Canada and the Soviet Union, but of course mainly in Western Europe, and particularly in the German-speaking part, alongside Belgium and the Netherlands. She sang in many festivals, such as the [[Festival of Flanders]], the Berliner Festwochen, the Wiener Festwochen, the [[Carinthischer Sommer]] and the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart. She made studio recordings for radio and television in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, France, Luxembourg and Switzerland and could be heard in a large number of well-known and less well-known concert halls throughout Western Europe.
<!--
⚫
One performance deserves special mention. On 4 April 1981, Bach's ''[[Matthew Passion]]'' was performed in the large (golden) hall of the Wiener Musikverein under the direction of [[Peter Schreier]]. It was a concert in memory of the recently deceased [[Karl Richter (conductor)|Karl Richter]] (dead 15 February 1981), under whose direction Bollen had also sung, and in this ''[[wikt:in memoriam|in memoriam]]'' concert she sang the alt-arias.<ref>See [https://web.archive.org/web/20131021072247/http://www.musikverein.at/suche/sucheErweitert.php this page] of the website of the Wiener Musikverein.</ref>-->


⚫
She worked with conductors Léonce Gras, Felix de Nobel, [[Karl Richter (conductor)|Karl Richter]], [[Peter Schreier]], also [[Herbert Blomstedt]], [[Eduard Flipse]], [[John Eliot Gardiner]], [[Nikolaus Harnoncourt]], [[Christopher Hogwood]], [[Heinrich Hollreiser]], [[Ferdinand Leitner]], [[Igor Markevitch]], [[Georges Prêtre]], [[Gennady Rozhdestvensky]], [[Paul Sacher]], [[Leif Segerstam]], [[Hans Swarowsky]], [[Michael Tilson Thomas]] and [[André Vandernoot]].<ref>Biographical information largely based on Marc Peire, "Singing Flemish people on the world stage: Ria Bollen" in the magazine ''Vlaanderen'' 32 (1983): 139, supplemented by data from a brochure about her published by Konzertagentur Farenholtz.</ref>
⚫
One performance deserves special mention. On 4 April 1981, Bach's ''[[Matthew Passion]]'' was performed in the large (golden) hall of the Wiener Musikverein under the direction of [[Peter Schreier]]. It was a concert in memory of the recently deceased [[Karl Richter (conductor)|Karl Richter]] (dead 15 February 1981), under whose direction Bollen had also sung, and in this ''[[wikt:in memoriam|in memoriam]]'' concert she sang the alt-arias.<ref>See [https://web.archive.org/web/20131021072247/http://www.musikverein.at/suche/sucheErweitert.php this page] of the website of the Wiener Musikverein.</ref>

⚫
Well-known conductors under whose direction she sang inspired her: Besides the already mentioned Léonce Gras, Felix de Nobel, Karl Richter and Peter Schreier, also [[Herbert Blomstedt]], [[Eduard Flipse]], [[John Eliot Gardiner]], [[Nikolaus Harnoncourt]], [[Christopher Hogwood]], [[Heinrich Hollreiser]], Ferdinand Leitner, Igor Markevich, [[Georges Prêtre]], Karl Richter, Helmuth Rilling, Gennadi Rozhdestvenski, Paul Sacher, Leif Segerstam, Hans Swarowsky, Michael Tilson Thomas and André Vandernoot.<ref>Biographical information largely based on Marc Peire, "Singing Flemish people on the world stage: Ria Bollen" in the magazine ''Vlaanderen'' 32 (1983): 139, supplemented by data from a brochure about her published by Konzertagentur Farenholtz.</ref>


In 1988, Bollen was a member of the jury of the first [[Queen Elisabeth Competition]] for singing.<ref>''1988 Chant – Zang'' [programmaboek van de wedstrijd], p. 21.</ref>
In 1988, Bollen was a member of the jury of the first [[Queen Elisabeth Competition]] for singing.<ref>''1988 Chant – Zang'' [programmaboek van de wedstrijd], p. 21.</ref>
Line 31: Line 39:


== Recordings ==
== Recordings ==
* Bach, Cantate ''Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz'', BWV 138. On part 50 of the recording of all Bach cantatas by Helmuth Rilling, Hänssler Classic 98630.
* Bach, [[Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz, BWV 138|''Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz'', BWV 138]], part 50 of [[Helmuth Rilling]]'s complete recordings of Bach cantatas, [[Hänssler Classic]] 98630.
* Haydn, ''[[Harmoniemesse]]', Hob. XXII:14 (with the orchestra of the [[Südwestfunk]], the Bach choir from Mainz, Barbara Martig-Tuller (soprano), Adalbert Kraus (tenor), Kurt Widmer (baritone); conductor Diethard Hellmann). Profil Medien PH11049.
* Haydn, ''[[Harmoniemesse]]'', Hob. XXII:14, with the [[SWR Symphonieorchester]], Mainzer Bach-Chor, Barbara Martig-Tuller, [[Adalbert Kraus]], [[Kurt Widmer]], conducted by [[Diethard Hellmann]]. Profil Medien PH11049.
* Jef Van Hoof, 19 songs (with Jozef De Beenhouwer, piano). René Gailly CD 87 006.
* Jef Van Hoof, 19 songs, with pianist Jozef De Beenhouwer. René Gailly CD 87 006.
* Frank Martin, ''Requiem''. Jecklin-Disco JD 631–2.<ref name="Première"/> Also on DVD 2 of a double DVD ''en compagnie de Frank Martin'' (Cascavelle VELD 7005). This also includes Martin's ''Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke'' (with Frank Martin as conductor of the West Flemish Orchestra, now the {{Ill|Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen|nl}}<ref>The booklet accompanying the DVD incorrectly lists the BRT Symphony Orchestra.</ref>).
* Frank Martin, ''[[Requiem (Martin)|Requiem]]''. Jecklin-Disco JD 631–2.<ref name="Première">Martin's ''Requiem'' was created on 4 May 1973 in Lausanne Cathedral. The composer himself conducted the [[Orchestre de la Suisse Romande]], the choirs Ars Laeta (Lausanne), Union chorale & Chœur de dames de Lausanne, the organist [[André Luy]], and the soloists Elisabeth Speiser (soprano), Ria Bollen (alto), Eric Tappy (tenor), and Peter Lagger (bass).</ref><!-- Also on DVD 2 of a double DVD ''en compagnie de Frank Martin'' (Cascavelle VELD 7005). This also includes Martin's ''Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke'' (with Frank Martin as conductor of the West Flemish Orchestra, now the {{Ill|Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen|nl}}{{efn|The booklet accompanying the DVD incorrectly lists the BRT Symphony Orchestra.}}-->
* Pergolesi's, ''[[Stabat Mater (Pergolesi)|Stabat Mater]]'' (with Concinite, the Chamber Orchestra Marjeta Delcourte-Korosec and Jill Gomez (soprano), conductor Karel Aerts). LP Eufoda 1036.
* Pergolesi, ''[[Stabat Mater (Pergolesi)|Stabat Mater]]'', with Concinite, the Chamber Orchestra Marjeta Delcourte-Korosec and Jill Gomez (soprano), conducted by Karel Aerts). LP Eufoda 1036.
* [[Arthur Verhoeven]], 10 songs (with Jozef De Beenhouwer, piano). LP Eufoda 1046.
* [[Arthur Verhoeven]], 10 songs, with De Beenhouwer. LP Eufoda 1046.
* Vivaldi, ''Gloria'' in D, RV 589 (with the Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim, the Berner Kammerchor and Ana-Maria Miranda (soprano), conductor Jörg Ewald Dähler). Claves CLV 0801.
* Vivaldi, ''[[Gloria (Vivaldi)|Gloria]]'' in D, RV 589, with [[Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra|Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim]], Berner Kammerchor and Ana-Maria Miranda (soprano), conducted by Jörg Ewald Dähler. Claves CLV 0801.
* Homage to Ria Bollen (music by Vivaldi, Bach, Haydn, [[Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy|Mendelssohn]], Brahms, [[Gioacchino Rossini|Rossini]], Respighi, [[Gustav Mahler|Mahler]] and [[August De Boeck|De Boeck]]). Phaedra, In Flanders' Fields vol. 91 (92091).
* Homage to Ria Bollen (music by Vivaldi, Bach, Haydn, [[Felix Mendelssohn|Mendelssohn]], Brahms, [[Gioachino Rossini|Rossini]], Respighi, [[Gustav Mahler|Mahler]] and [[August de Boeck|De Boeck]]). Phaedra, In Flanders' Fields vol. 91 (92091).


== References ==
== References ==
Line 45: Line 53:


<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens">{{cite book
<ref name="Kutsch/Riemens">{{cite book
| last = Kutsch
| last1 = Kutsch
| first = K. J.
| first1 = K.-J.
| author-link = Karl Josef Kutsch
| author1-link = Karl-Josef Kutsch
| last2 = Riemens
| last2 = Riemens
| first2 = Leo
| first2 = Leo
| authorlink2 = Leo Riemens
| author2-link = Leo Riemens
| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dsfq_5dFeL0C&pg=484
| url =
| title = Bollen, Ria
| chapter = Bollen, Ria
| work = [[Großes Sängerlexikon]]
| title = [[Großes Sängerlexikon]]
| publisher = [[Walter de Gruyter]]
| publisher = [[De Gruyter]]
| edition = 4th
| edition = 4th
| language = de
| language = de
| date = 2012
| date = 2012
| page =
| page = 484
| isbn = 978-3-59-844088-5
| isbn = 978-3-59-844088-5
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
Line 65: Line 73:


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{DNB portal|134332962}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{discogs artist}}


{{portal bar|Classical music|Belgium}}
{{portal bar|Biography|Classical music|Belgium}}
⚫
{{authority control|state=collapsed}}

⚫
{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bollen, Ria}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bollen, Ria}}
Line 77: Line 83:
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Sint-Truiden]]
[[Category:People from Sint-Truiden]]
[[Category:20th-century Belgian women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Belgian singers]]
[[Category:Flemish classical musicians]]
[[Category:Prize-winners of the ARD International Music Competition]]
[[Category:Winners of the Geneva International Music Competition]]

Latest revision as of 11:12, 7 January 2024

Ria Bollen
Ria Bollen in 2010
Born (1942-02-11) 11 February 1942 (age 82)
Sint-Truiden, Belgium
EducationRoyal Conservatoire Antwerp
OccupationContralto

Ria Bollen (born 11 February 1942) is a Flemish contralto, who had an international career as a concert singer between 1965 and 1992. Her broad repertoire included Bach's Passions, Mozart's Requiem, Beethoven's Missa solemnis, especially works by Gustav Mahler and works of the 20th century. She was the soloist in the world premiere of Frank Martin's Requiem. She sang many art songs, including by Belgian composers.

Life[edit]

Born in Sint-Truiden,[1] Bollen a school of classical humanities, and then studied psychology. After two years, she studied voice at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp with Lucie Frateur [nl],[1][2] who accompanied her throughout her career. She graduated in 1968 with the major distinction. She also studied with Pierre Bernac, Felix de Nobel [nl], Erik Werba and Christa Ludwig.

She made her debut as a soloist in 1965, in the opera Godelieve [nl] by Edgar Tinel conducted by Léonce Gras [nl; fr].[1] Also before she graduated, she obtained the first prize of the Maria Canalswedstrijd in Barcelona, in 1967. She was laureate of four more prestigious competitions: the International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch (1968), the ARD International Music Competition (1969), the Geneva International Music Competition, in which she won first prize (1970), and the "Internationaler Wettbewerb für Gesang" of the "Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien", better known as the Vienna Musikverein (1972).

Her repertoire was extensive. She sang works with orchestra or chamber orchestra from

Bollen has a special predilection for the work of Frank Martin, who asked her to sing the alto solo in the world premiere of his Requiem,[3] She performed almost everything that Martin composed for her voice type.

Her song repertoire, which she often performed with pianist Jozef De Beenhouwer, was also very extensive, ranging from Purcell to contemporary composers. She performed Zigeunerlieder and Vier ernste Gesänge by Brahms, Dvořák's Gypsy Songs, Schumann's Frauenliebe und -leben, Wladimir Vogel's 5 Lieder nach Texten von Nelly Sachs and Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder, among others. She also sang many works by Belgian composers, such as Peter Benoit, René Defossez [nl], Jef van Hoof, Marinus De Jong, Willem Kersters, Lodewijk Mortelmans, Lodewijk Mortelmans, Flor Peeters and David Van de Woestijne [nl].

She performed in Israel, Japan, Canada and the Soviet Union, but of course mainly in Western Europe, and particularly in the German-speaking part, alongside Belgium and the Netherlands. She sang in many festivals, such as the Festival of Flanders, the Berliner Festwochen, the Wiener Festwochen, the Carinthischer Sommer and the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart. She made studio recordings for radio and television in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, France, Luxembourg and Switzerland and could be heard in a large number of well-known and less well-known concert halls throughout Western Europe.

She worked with conductors Léonce Gras, Felix de Nobel, Karl Richter, Peter Schreier, also Herbert Blomstedt, Eduard Flipse, John Eliot Gardiner, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Christopher Hogwood, Heinrich Hollreiser, Ferdinand Leitner, Igor Markevitch, Georges Prêtre, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Paul Sacher, Leif Segerstam, Hans Swarowsky, Michael Tilson Thomas and André Vandernoot.[4]

In 1988, Bollen was a member of the jury of the first Queen Elisabeth Competition for singing.[5]

On the occasion of her 75th birthday, Ria Bollen was solemnly received on 10 April 2017 in the Antwerp City Hall and honoured by Mayor Bart De Wever. The laudation was pronounced by Luc Leytens.[6]

Recordings[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Kutsch, K.-J.; Riemens, Leo (2012). "Bollen, Ria". Großes Sängerlexikon (in German) (4th ed.). De Gruyter. p. 484. ISBN 978-3-59-844088-5.
  2. ^ Robijns, J.; Mostaert, J. M. (1979). "Bollen, Ria". Algemene muziek encyclopedie.
  3. ^ Martin's Requiem was created on 4 May 1973 in Lausanne Cathedral. The composer himself conducted the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the choirs Ars Laeta (Lausanne), Union chorale & Chœur de dames de Lausanne, the organist André Luy, and the soloists Elisabeth Speiser (soprano), Ria Bollen (alto), Eric Tappy (tenor), and Peter Lagger (bass).
  4. ^ Biographical information largely based on Marc Peire, "Singing Flemish people on the world stage: Ria Bollen" in the magazine Vlaanderen 32 (1983): 139, supplemented by data from a brochure about her published by Konzertagentur Farenholtz.
  5. ^ 1988 Chant – Zang [programmaboek van de wedstrijd], p. 21.
  6. ^ Jan Dewilde 2017 Homage to Ria Bollen Newsletter 170 of the Study Centre for Flemish Music. In this Newsletter also the full text of the laudatio by Luc Leytens
  7. ^ Martin's Requiem was created on 4 May 1973 in Lausanne Cathedral. The composer himself conducted the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the choirs Ars Laeta (Lausanne), Union chorale & Chœur de dames de Lausanne, the organist André Luy, and the soloists Elisabeth Speiser (soprano), Ria Bollen (alto), Eric Tappy (tenor), and Peter Lagger (bass).

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ria_Bollen&oldid=1194134323"