401Concerts 1 
401Concerts 2
401Concerts 3
DutchDiva of the Month
Barbara Schilstra
Dutch lyric soprano Barbara Schilstra is Diva of the Month December 2016/January 2017 in the wake of her lead part in 401Concerts 4, in the Concert Hall of the library at Spui, The Hague, 18 december. She will sing there an array of arias and duets from Dutch operas by Cornelis Dopper, Daniël de Lange, Gerard von Brucken Fock, Emile von Brucken-Fock, Willem Landré, Jan van Gilse, Jan Brandts Buys en Richard Hageman. Schilstra's voice is marked by a silvery timbre and genuine personality. Till date the highlight of her career was a tour as Saffi in Gypsy Baron that took her from Vienna throughout Germany. The next highlight will be the December 18 concert! Who is curious after her voice is welcome to attend this coproduction with the Netherlands Music Institute. Entrance is Free!
DutchDivo of the Month
In Memoriam Wolter Willemsen
Our 401DutchOperas house pianist, the brilliant Wolter Willemsen, has died completely unexpectedly in his house on June 18. On behalf of our team, in particular also our vocal ensemble consisting of Barbara Schilstra, Hendrik Vonk, Lilian van de Zande and since recently also Hans de Vries, we wish his friends and family strength. Wolter was exceptionally gifted, he could take you to realms of sound in Dutch music that you had never believed possible. We had planned a studio recording of all the music we had been working on for the past two years: operas by Von Brucken Fock, Jan van Gilse, Jan Brandts Buys and some others. That we have to cancel this recording is a true blow to those wodnerful Dutch composers. Dear Wolter, wherever you are on the journey to the big unknown, we do not wish you a quiet journey at all, we wish you a lot of music and a Bösendörfer!
Anny Delorie
Anny Delorie, 1925-2009
Anny (Annie) Delorie, born January 17th at Amsterdam, was specially successfully in opera. Her debut at the 'Nederlandse Opera' she made in the season 1950/51 in Manon (Jules Massenet). She sang the role of Rosette. Other singers in this performance, a.o. Frans Vroons, Chris Taverne, Jos Burcksen , Nel Duval and Louise de Vries. Her last appearance was in the season 1969/70 in Verdi's 'Un Ballo in maschera' with the role of - of course - Ulrica. She has sung at stage in more as hundred performances.
Anny Delorie died, rather unexpected, in her hometown Bovenkarspel on Thursday 19 November 2009.
Anny Delorie as Azucena's aria 'Stride la vampa' , in Verdi's Il Trovatore
