# Cornelis Opthof

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Canadian opera singer

Cornelis Opthof Born (1930-02-10)February 10, 1930 Rotterdam, Netherlands Died December 16, 2008(2008-12-16) (aged 78) Toronto, Ontario Genres Opera Occupation Singer Instrument Vocals

Musical artist

**Cornelis Opthof** (February 10, 1930 – December 16, 2008) was a [Dutch-born](/source/Netherlands) [Canadian](/source/Canadians) bass-baritone who sang with the [Canadian Opera Company](/source/Canadian_Opera_Company) for fifty years, its longest serving member.[1][2]

## Biography

Opthof was born in [Rotterdam](/source/Rotterdam) in 1930 and immigrated to Canada in 1949 where he studied classical voice with Catharina Hendrikse. In 1957, he was awarded a scholarship at the Royal Conservatory of Music and, in 1959, he made his debut as Alcalde in *[La forza del destino](/source/La_forza_del_destino)* with the [Canadian Opera Company](/source/Canadian_Opera_Company) (where he remained a member for fifty years, performing in over 75 productions). He made his [Metropolitan Opera](/source/Metropolitan_Opera) debut in 1976, opposite [Joan Sutherland](/source/Joan_Sutherland) as Riccardo, in *[I Puritani](/source/I_Puritani)*, having previously sung with her on a number of occasions which included being invited to Australia by [Richard Bonynge](/source/Richard_Bonynge) to tour with his wife.[2]

He made some noteworthy recordings of songs by [Arnold Schoenberg](/source/Arnold_Schoenberg) with [Glenn Gould](/source/Glenn_Gould) as an accompanist. He also made a number of opera recordings with Joan Sutherland.[3]

Opthof died in Toronto on December 16, 2008, and was survived by his wife Natalia and their three children.[2]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada](https://web.archive.org/web/20120324181747/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/cornelis-opthof)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-free_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-free_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-free_2-2) "In memoriam Cornelis Opthof (1930–2008)" ( March 22, 2009) The Free Library

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Cornelis Opthof at allmusic

## External links

- [Photograph of Cornelis Opthof](https://web.archive.org/web/20150927191628/http://blog.scena.org/2009/01/canadian-baritone-cornelis-opthof-1930.html)

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