Arjan Blanken

Arjan Blanken, born 1924

Arjan Blanken made his debut in 1954 in the 'Grote Kerk' at Edam. He first appeared as oratorio- and lieder-singer. He made his opera-debut as Fenton (Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Otto Nicolai) at the 'Zuid-Nederlandse Opera' in 1957. He performed as lyric tenor opera-roles as Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Mozart), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni, Mozart), count Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini), Baron Kronthal (Der Wildschütz, Lortzing), a.o. The last mentioned opera had at the performance on 4 June 1958 as cast a.o. Erna Spoorenberg as Baronin Freimann, Guus Hoekman as Baculus and Aafje Heijnis (!) as Nanette. He co-operated at the Israelitish premiers of passions of Bach and the Messiah (Händel). He also made a tour through South-Africa and Indonesia.