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"If music be the food of love, play on!" - William Shakespeare

Anner Bijlsma

Anner Bijlsma, born as Anne Bijlsma in The Hague in 1934, began als young living room cellist in the amateur string quartet of his father. He won the Casals Competition in Mexico in 1959, began his professional career as solo cellist with the Dutch National Opera in 1958 and was principal cellist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra from 1962 till 1968.
Later on Bijlsma mainly performed as a chamber musician and specialized in early music. Bijlsma was part of a trio with the early music pioneers harpsichord Gustav Leonhardt and recorder player Frans Brüggen, with whom he toured throughout Europe and abroad. He also founded the ensemble L’ Archibudelli with his wife, violinist Vera Beths, and violist Jürgen Kussmaul. The ensemble plays exclusively on instruments with gut strings.
Because of a muscle disease, it became increasingly difficult for Bijlsma to move his fingers, as a result of which he was forced to stop performing. He gave his final concert during the first Cello Biennale in Amsterdam in 2006. Since 2014, during that event the Anner Bijlsma Award is awarded to an individual or organization who made an extraordinary effort for the cello. Bijlsma himself was the first laureate.
Anner Bijlsma passed away on 24 July. He became 85 years old.