Ameling, Elly (actually, Elisabeth Sara)

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Ameling, Elly (actually, Elisabeth Sara)

Ameling, Elly (actually, Elisabeth Sara), outstanding Dutch soprano; b. Rotterdam, Feb. 8, 1934. After studies in Rotterdam and The Hague, she completed her training with Bernac in Paris; won the ’s-Hertogenbosch (1956) and Geneva (1958) competitions, then made her formal recital debut in Amsterdam (1961). Subsequent appearances with the Concertgebouw Orch. in Amsterdam and the Rotterdam Phil. secured her reputation. In 1966 she made her London debut and in 1968 her N.Y. debut; her first appearance in opera was as Ilia in Idomeneo with the Netherlands Opera in Amsterdam in 1973, but she chose to concentrate upon a career as a concert artist. She gained renown for her appearances with major European orchs. and for her lieder recitals. In 1971 she was made a Knight of the Order of Oranje Nassau by the Dutch government. She established the Elly Ameling Lied Prize to be awarded at the ’s-Hertogenbosch competition. Her remarkable career came to a close with a series of farewell recitals in 1995.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire