ANNER BIJLSMA

Anner Bijlsma

Anner Bijlsma is one of the Dutch pioneers of historically informed Baroque performance. Most Dutch cellists of distinction, including those who play the modern cello, have studied with him. Bijlsma is also a leading soloist and chamber music player in both early and contemporary music.
Full biography

Instruments

cello

Mentioned in the biography of

1946   Lucy van Dael
1954   Ernst Reijseger
1964   Job ter Haar
1980   Vera Beths
1982   Lucia Swarts
1985   Marjanne Kweksilber
1987   Stanley Hoogland
2002   Jörgen van Rijen
2002   Ties Mellema
2008   Amber Docters van Leeuwen
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Biography Anner Bijlsma

Anner Bijlsma is one of the Dutch pioneers of historically informed Baroque performance. Most Dutch cellists of distinction, including those who play the modern cello, have studied with him. Bijlsma is also a leading soloist and chamber music player in both early and contemporary music.

1934 - 1949

Anner Bijlsma is born on February 17 in The Hague. He receives his first music lessons from his father, Anne Bijlsma.

1950 - 1959

Bijlsma studies the cello with Carel van Leeuwen Boomkamp at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He is awarded the Prix d'Excellence in 1957. In 1958 he becomes solo cellist of the orchestra of De Nederlandse Opera. Bijlsma wins the Pablo Casals Competition (Mexico).

1962 - 1968

Bijlsma is solo cellist of the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam

1970

Bijlsma teaches at both the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam.

1980 - 1982

With the violinist Vera Beths, pianist Reinbert de Leeuw and clarinetist George Pieterson, he makes the legendary (and still leading) recording of Olivier Messiaen's 'Quartet for the End of Time'. In 1982 Bijlsma is the Erasmus Scholar at Harvard University.

1989 - 1992

Bijlsma's cello arrangements of Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Violin Sonatas' BWV 1003 and 1013 and the 'Partita' BWV 1006 are released on CD (Deutsche Harmonia Mundi; RD 77998). In 1992 Bijlsma records Bach's six 'Cello Suites' for a second time (Sony Vivarte; S2K 48047). He hopes to record them again when he recovers from a neglected whiplash injury.

1993 - 1995

Bijlsma forms the string trio L'Archibudelli with the violinist Vera Beths and violist Jürgen Kussmaul. In 1995 Bijlsma receives an honorary doctorate from the New England Conservatory. He is nominated for a Grammy Award for his recording of the Brahms 'Sonatas'.

1998 - 1999

He self-publishes the book 'Bach, The Fencing Masters. Reading Aloud From The First Three Cello Suites' (ISBN 90-9011794-6). Cherry Duyns makes a television portrait of Bijlsma titled 'De Arm van Bach' [The Arm of Bach] (VPRO).

2008

Carine Bijlsma, his daughter, makes a film with Rosanne Phillipens about her father and his love for Luigi Boccherini ('Het Geheim van Boccherini' – Boccherini's Secret).

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Audio/Video Anner Bijlsma