The renowned Dutch bass-baritone Henk Smit has died at the age of 78 whilst on vacation in Paris. Henk Smit was one of Holland’s best opera singers and frequently appeared for both De Nederlandse Opera and the Nationale Reisopera. He was born in Surhuisteveen near Groningen and travelled to Toronto as a young man, where he studied voice at the Royal Conservatory of Music. He made his debut with De Nederlandse Opera in 1958 as Angelotti in Puccini’s Tosca alongside such Dutch stars as Gré Brouwenstijn and Johan van der Zalm. He won second prize at the International Vocal Competition ’s-Hertogenbosch in 1961. The roles he was best known for in his long career were Scarpia Tosca, Klingsor Parsifal, Jack Rance La fanciulla del West and the title roles of Berg’s Wozzeck and Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra; he also made a lasting impression as Alberich in Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen for De Nederlandse Opera during the 1997-1999 seasons. The IVC ’s-Hertogenbosch remembers Henk Smit with profound admiration and respect for his work as singer, teacher and IVC jury member.
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The IVC ’s-Hertogenbosch is a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions.
