Which song do you want to play at your own farewell anyway?
“Faust, by Charles Gounod and specifically Christ est ressuscité.”
Why this particular number?
“This song touches me every time I hear it. It left an indelible impression on me when I sang it as a nineteen-year-old boy with my father. We played together as amateurs in the opera Faust and on the evening of the general At rehearsal we heard that my grandmother had just died. The premiere was also held on the day of her funeral, and then we stood there and sang together. This song is so powerful instrumentally and instinctively works towards a closing piece.”
“Two years ago my father died of corona and then this song sounded again. In a small circle but no less impressive. The pastoral worker used the instrumental pieces to say a few more words, that was really beautiful. I would love it if this song is also played at my farewell, although I also realize that I myself no longer hear it. if they take comfort in it, it’s all right.”
What does it say about your life?
“It says something about my childhood, about the family I come from. Opera played an important role in our home. My father always sang in operas and in this way he transferred the love for music to me. When I was eighteen I went with two friends also at the opera and the association was overjoyed that there were finally some men again.”
“All three of us came from a church choir and wanted to do more with music. Faust also has something religious, so that fit nicely. I like that theatrical. I still sing in amateur musicals. Wonderful! And it is not coincidentally that I have a specialization in voice. my profession. Faust is my favorite opera, although La Bohème comes close too.”
Where do you prefer to listen to music?
“In a theater, with several people around me, because you immediately share the beauty and emotion with each other. I go to the theater very often and I missed that a lot in corona time. With friends, but just as sweet alone. That I can just cycle to DeLaMar and Carré is a great happiness. I also like listening in the car, because then I don’t have to do anything else. At home, music is mainly a background filling.”
How many lists do you have on Spotify?
“I have piles of CDs and I hardly listen to them. But I don’t throw them away either. I don’t make lists on Spotify. Usually I listen to the radio. That can be 538, but also Radio 1. I’m the last “At that time, especially a fan of podcasts. True crime and also fiction. In terms of music it is really not all opera, by the way. Also Robert Long, ABBA, operas, musicals, a lot of jazz and even Billy Idol. I am an omnivore.”
What is your guilty pleasure?
“The number For A Friend from The Communards. That song immediately swings me back to the beginning of my speech therapy training. It also touched me very much at the time and as far as I’m concerned it should also be at my funeral. And indeed ABBA. When I got the album ABBA Arrival, I didn’t have English in school yet and I made it ar-rie-val in my head. Only years later at Schiphol did I realize that it was natural arrival used to be.”
Participate?
What song should be played at your funeral? And what does that say about your life? If you want to participate in this section, email your story to hanneke.mijnster@rtl.nl