Born: April 11, 1926 - Yogyakarta, Java
Died: March 18, 2004

The Dutch soprano, Erna Spoorenberg, studied in Hilversum and Amsterdam.

Erna Spoorenberg made her debut in an appearance with Radio Hilversum in 1947. In 1958 she became a leading member of the Netherlands Opera in Amsterdam. She made occasional appearances at various European music centres, but principally was associated with the musical life of Holland..

Erna Spoorenberg made her debut in the Wiener Staatsoper in 1949 at the age of 24 by invitation of Karl Böhm, and her USA debut was in New York in 1967. She was especially esteemed for her roles in operas by Mozart and for her portrayal of Mélisande. She also pursued a successful career as a concert singer. She was also famous because of her participation in J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244).

In her last years Erna Spoorenberg lived in the Dutch town Vught. The Dutch writer Godfried Bomans said of her: "Two little braids with between theme a mouth".

Source: Dutch Divas Website; Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20^th Century Classical Musicians (1997); Marijke Halberstadt (March 2004)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2001) & Marijke Halberstadt (March 2004)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Anton van der Horst

Soprano

BWV 244

Jürgen Jürgens

Soprano

BWV 208

Helmuth Rilling

Soprano

BWV 215

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