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The Dutch conductor and music pedagogue, Hans Vonk, was the son of Franciscus Cornelis and Wilhelmina Vonk. His father was a violinist in the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, and died when Hans was age 3. He studied piano with Jaap Spaanderman at the Amsterdam Conservatory, graduating with honors in 1964. During this time, he made a living from gigs as a jazz pianist. Following that he majored in law at the University of Amsterdam and studied conducting with Franco Ferrara and Hermann Scherchen.
Hans Vonk spent the next several years in a typical conductor's apprenticeship, including guest conducting appearances and work with smaller ensembles. He debuted as a conductor with the Netherlands National Ballet. He later married the ballerina, Jessie Folkerts. He also served as assistant conductor with the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, and associate conductor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London. He held Chief Conductor position with De Nederlandse Opera (1976-1985). His first appointment to a major symphony was as Chief Conductor of the Residentie Orkest Den Haag (1980-1991). He led that orchestra on an extensive trip to the USA in the 1980's, his debut appearance in that country. He also served as Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (1978-1979).
Hans Vonk was appointed Chief Conductor of the Dresden Staatskapelle in 1985. The Dresden Staatskapelle is the oldest symphony orchestra in the world and is one of the most prestigious appointments in Europe, having been occupied in the past by such starts as Heinrich Schütz, Richard Wagner, Karl Böhm, Rudolf Kempe, and Fritz Busch. While in that position, he also was engaged as the head of the Dresden State Opera, the first time these two historic directorships have been held by the same musician since Karl Böhm. He led the opera in the historic opening of the new Semper Opera in Dresden in 1985, playing Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier. The live recording of that event was widely praised, many critics ranking it as a recording as equal or even greater than the classic EMI set with Herbert von Karajan and a cast headed by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Dresden at the time was part of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Vonk has spoken of the distasteful aspects of working under the Communist government, subject to program changes dictated by political and party leaders and the musicians receiving meager pay. He conducted another historic event: while touring with the Dresden Staatskapelle in West Germany, the news reached the excited crowd and musicians that the hated Wall and fortified border between the two Germanys was being torn down. The rest of the tour was energized by a feeling that the visiting East German orchestra represented the coming national reunification. He finished his tenure with the Chief Conductor of the Dresden Staatskapelle in 1990.
In 1988 Hans Vonk conducted at La Scala in Milan in a revival of Jommelli's Dresden Staatskapelle, but then had to take a year off from conducting after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neurological condition. He appeared to recover and resumed conducting. He served as Chief Conductor of the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln from 1990 to the end of the 1996-1997 season.
In the USA, Hans Vonk made in 1992 his first guest appearance with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO), America's second oldest orchestra and among its finest. In January 1995, he was appointed the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra's Music Director, after Leonard Slatkin, and took up the position in 1996. There, his performances are noted for the command of a wide variety of styles and their rich orchestral color. He toured with the orchestra to Europe and New York's Carnegie Hall. In 2001, he began to experience muscular weakness, which was not diagnosed to a specific ailment at the time. In 2002, he resigned his position in St. Louis because of these health problems, which were later diagnosed as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
His last performance with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra was of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 4, on Saturday, May 4, 2002. The applause lasted four minutes and was followed by a commendation read by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Virginia Weldon: "In recognition of his vital leadership and exemplary artistry, as well as his lasting contribution to the rich cultural legacy of both this orchestra and the region of Saint Louis, it is with great pride and affection that the Board of Trustees of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra bestows this commendation on Maestro Hans Vonk, on this day, Saturday, May 4th, 2002, Saint Louis, Missouri." To which the maestro briefly responded: "Ladies and gentlemen, since I'm a United States conductor I'm supposed to say something to the audience. I would like to thank you for your presence through this six years. Everything I have to say happened tonight on stage." The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra dedicated a program of Hector Berlioz's Requiem to him after his death.
In March 2002, Hans Vonk was named Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra (NRSO). He held the post for the 2003-2004 season, and was the orchestra's last Chief Conductor before its disbandment. His illness had debilitated him to the point that he conducted several Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra concerts from a wheelchair.
Hans Vonk also guest conducted many of the world's great orchestras. He established a notable career as a symphony conductor with a wide range of repertory and a strong sense of style for the various periods of music in the symphonic repertoire. His recordings are on the Chandos and Denon labels, among others, and include two CD's of the Dutch composer Alphons Diepenbrock. He was regarded as a specialist in the music of Anton Bruckner as well as an advocate of the music of Peter Schat, including conducting the world premiere of Schat's stage work Houdini.
On August 29, 2004, Hans Vonk died in his Amsterdam home and is buried in that city under the epitaph (in English):
Music was his life.
Now it brings us
Solace and serenity.
He is survived by his widow, Jessie, who moved to Tasmania after her husband's death. In his memory she built the Hans Vonk Music House which began to host chamber music recitals in 2010. Luuk Reurich wrote a biography of Vonk, Hans Vonk, Een dirigentenleven (Hans Vonk, A Conductor's Life), published in 2006. |
