Bernard Kruysen


Bernard Kruysen was a Dutch classical lyric baritone. He received various French and Dutch awards, including the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He gave many concerts both in Europe and in the United States.

Biography

Bernard Kruysen spent much of his youth in Provence, which gave him an excellent command of the French language. He spoke and sang French without an accent. He lived there with his mother, Willy van Berkel, and his stepfather, singer Hubert Raidich. He would only see his biological father again later in life.
Kruysen studied at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague under Herbert Raideck and was admitted at an early age to the Academy of the Dutch Opera. He later studies in Paris to work with Pierre Bernac, which quickly made him a leading interpreter of French song. Composer Francis Poulenc often accompanied him on piano.
His repertoire ranged from Monteverdi to Poulenc and included composers such as Bach, Schubert, Schumann, Fauré, and Ravel. Pianist Noël Lee was his regular partner for many recordings. He also worked intensively with the Dutch pianist Gérard van Blerk and the Dutch pianist/composer Hans Henkemans. In addition to French songs, Schubert's Winterreise and the St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion were his specialities, with which he also gave concerts in Germany.
In 1977, he gave concerts in Riga, now called St. Petersburg, together with the Royal Male Choir Die Haghe Sanghers, conducted by René Verhoeff. In 1995, he performed in St. Nicholas Church in Prague with the Breda's Male Choir, conducted by Marcel Verhoeff, including a performance of the Polní Mše, the Soldier’s Mass. After extensive tours through Europe and the United States, Kruysen was mainly active in the Netherlands. His interpretations were praised for their simplicity, intelligence, and perfect diction.
He performed as the opera singer Theo Fabrice in Eline Vere, a Dutch-Belgian-French film production from 1991 based on the novel by Louis Couperus.

Awards and distinctions

Other information

Bernard Kruysen represented his country several times at the world championships in underwater hunting. In the same field, he was also a director of underwater films in collaboration with his diving friend Fik Meijer. Together they made many diving trips in the deep sea around Ibiza. He also did the camera work for a 1965 episode of the BBC series "Travellers' Tales" with Sir David Attenborough.
His grandfather Jan Kruysen and father Antoon Kruysen were painters. Kruysen had four children: Monique, Ino, Michaël, and André.

Discography and recordings

Literature

  • Tijdschrift Luister 1962-I-128: Paul Chr. van Westering: “Bernard Kruysen, Grand Prix du disque”
  • Tijdschrift Luister 1964-VI-287: Joop Schrier:  “Valois maakt opnamen in Nederland”
  • Tijdschrift Luister 1979-II-8: Hans C.M. van Rooy: “De bariton Bernard Kruysen"
  • Tijdschrift Luister 1986-IX-14: review by J.S. about  Massenet's songs
  • "About Mussorgsky" in magazine “Records and recording”  nov. 1966: “Bernard Kruysen sings Mussorgsky”
  • Trouw March 12, 1976  Pag. 9  Adr. Hager review Purcell Dido & Aeneas
  • Eindhovens Dagblad  06-06-1987: Paul Kokke “De kleine dingen van Bernard Kruysen, zanger”
  • Haagsche Courant 01-11-2000 / Brabants Dagblad 08-11-2000: Aad van der Ven: “Een carriere zonder uiterlijke glans”