Background
Aafje Heynis was born in Krommenie in 1924. At the age of four she sang in a children"s choir as well as with her father at the harmonium.
Aafje Heynis was born in Krommenie in 1924. At the age of four she sang in a children"s choir as well as with her father at the harmonium.
In 1961, she was awarded the Harriet Cohen International Music Award. A tea rose, hybridised by Buisman 1964, was named after her. She quickly established her reputation, to begin with in the field of oratorio.
With her performance in Johannes Brahms" Alto Rhapsody with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under the direction of Eduard van Beinum, she attracted wide attention.
She performed many concerts in churches, Lieder recitals, and numerous performances of Johann Sebastian Bach"s Street Matthew Passion. Foreign the Philips label she made a series of recordings of works by Brahms, Bach, George Frideric Handel and Felix Mendelssohn.
However, Aafje Heynis showed a particular preference for Gustav Mahler, one consequence of which was a legendary recording of his Symphony Number. 2 with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Bernard Haitink.
She died on 16 December 2015, aged 91.