Wilhelmine Matthes

Classical alto vocalist. She was born in Utrecht in 1920, in which city she also received her first lessons from Elly Geuer. At a very early age she was already given solo parts in performances of Bach Cantatas. Later she studied with Prof. Hendrik Andriessen at the Utrecht "Toonkunst Conservatorium" and with the well-known pedagogues Aaltje Noordewier-Reddingius and Jeanne van de Rosiere. Her first official appearance was in Händel's "Messiah". The conductor Paul van Kempen held her in such great esteem that he gave several performances of Mahler's "Lied von der Erde" with her as soloist.