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The Dutch bass Harry van der Kamp, born 1947 in Kampen, Holland first studied law and psychology in Amsterdam before beginning vocal studies with Max van Egmond and later with Herman Woltman, Alfred Deller and Pierre Bernac.

Today, Harry van der Kamp is internationally known as one of the most important bass singers in the solo and ensemble repertoire of the 14th - 18th centuries. He appeared in many operas of the baroque period (by Peri, Agazzari, Monteverdi, Cavalli, Cesti, Purcell, Meder, Rameau, and Händel) and in several operas of later date, by Mozart, Rossini, Berlioz and Hindemith.

He is a protagonist of the 17th and 18th century repertoire for bass solo, and has performed numerous oratoria, cantatas, and dialogues of that period. He is also a dedicated performer of contemporary music. During his career, Harry van der Kamp has worked with conductors such as Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Bach, Mozart, Händel), Hans Vonk (Stravinsky, Weill), Sergiu Commissiona (Rossini, Verdi), Gustav Leonhardt (Bach, Monteverdi, Biber, Purcell), Ivan Fischer (Monteverdi, Zelenka, Schütz), Bruno Weill (Haydn, Schubert), Frans Brüggen (Bach, Schütz), William Christie (Monteverdi, Händel), Ton Koopman (Bach, Monteverdi, Mozart), Reinbert de Leeuw (Kagel, Milhaud, Hindemith, Schönberg), René Jacobs (Cavalli, Cesti, Monteverdi), Alan Curtis (Stradella, Bach, Händel) and with ensembles such as the Hilliard Ensemble, Musica Antiqua Köln, Les Arts Florissants, Tragicomedia, La Petite Bande, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Tafelmusik and the Huelgas Ensemble.

From 1974 until 1994 he was a member of the Netherlands Chamber Choir, of which he was also artistic advisor from 1980 until 1987. In 1984 he founded his own ensemble, Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam, for the performance of music from the early 1600's and music of the 20th century. The ensemble's concerts met with great success at the main festivals for early music in Europe.

Harry van der Kamp is a Professor at the Hochschule für Künste in Bremen, Germany, and gives frequent masterclasses in various European countries.

Claudio Monteverdi, Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, 'Superbo è l'uom'

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(p) 2007 Dutch Divas