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The Dutch tenor, Simon van der Geest, studied singing at the Amsterdams Muzieklyceum, where he was taught by Paula Lindberg and Julius Patzak, among others.
Simon van der Geest his debut in 1958 in J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244). He then sang with great success at the Wiener Kammeroper in Austria. He made his debut at the Nederlandse Operastichting in 1966 as Tamino in W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. He sang at this performance with Cristina Deutekom as as the Queen. As lyric tenor he could be heard for years in the Netherlands in opera-roles as Don Basilio in W.A. Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Monsieur Triquet in Eugene Onegin, Riccardo in Il Trionfo dell'onore, Basilio in W.A. Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Don Ottavio in W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni, Idamante in W.A. Mozart's Idomeneo, Belmonte in W.A. Mozart's Die Entfuührung aus dem Serail, Ferrando in W.A. Mozart's Così fan tutte, Count Almaviva in G. Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, Ernesto in G. Donizetti's Don Pasquale, Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore, Fenton in O. Nicolai's Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Witch in Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel und Gretel, Alfred, Wilhelm Meister in A. Thomas' Mignon, Hoffmann in J. Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann, a dance teacher in R. Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos and the title role in Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring. He appeared also as concert-singer in a large varied repertoire, including appearances in J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244) (a.o. under Eduard van Beinum), usually as Evangelist and in his cantatas. At the same time he appeared frequently in radio concerts. During the last years of his career he sang especially character roles, with which he was very successful. His final opera performance was on December 29, 1985 in the Circus theater, Scheveningen, as Altoum, the emperor in Puccini's Turandot, Cristina Deutekom sang in here the title role.
Simon van der Geest lived in the little village Bellingwolde, in the province Groningen, where he occupied himself in the late years of his live with music. A.o. with musical evenings, lieder evenings and with the giving of singing lessons. |
