Gee Smith

Gé Smith (born on May 5, 1909 in The Hague, Netherlands., died on June 16, 1962 in Scheveningen, Netherlands) was a Dutch opera singer in the bass vocal profession. He started singing in cabaret, with Fritz Hirsch, and operetta with the United Operetta Players under the name of Gerardus Smith. His serious studies with Mrs. De Nijs, culminating in winning a prize at the bel canto competition in The Hague in 1949. It was Gré Brouwenstijn, who introduced him to opera, to which he was associated for ten years, singing the roles of Zuniga (Carmen), Daland (Fliegende Holländer), Sparafucile (Rigoletto), il re (Aïda), Kuno (Der Freischütz), Micha (The sold bride, Smetana), Priest (Die Zauberflöte), Hermann and Reiman von Zweter (Tannhäuser), Jarno (Mignon), Wagner (Faust), Bonzo (Madame Butterfly), marchese di Calatrava (La forza del destino), Benoit (La bohème), Sawjol Prokofj. Dikoj (Katja Kabanowa, Janacek), Antonio (Le nozze di Figaro), Hobson (Peter Grimes, Britten), the village judge (Jenufa, Janacek) and un notaio (Don Pasquale). His first appearance at De Nederlandsche Opera by Paul Cronheim and Abraham van der Vies was on October 1, 1950 in a performance of Bizet's Les pêcheurs de perles. Smith was an excellent singer, who made impressive creations many times, performing with the Opera in Prague Opera by Janacek, Katja Kabanova. His role as the old party song in "La Bohème" was also one of his best performances. His last performance as Antonio was on June 19, 1961 in a performance of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro at the Koninklijke Schouwburg in The Hague. He died at age 53, affter a long and debilitating illness. He was married to opera singer Lidy van der Veen.