Pauline de Haan-Manifarges (1872 – 1954)

Born in Rotterdam, she studied with L.F. Brandts Bujs and Paul Hasse who had been a member of the ‘Deusche Oper’ in Rotterdam. After further studies with the famous singing coach Julius Stockhausen in Frakfurt am Main she made an early debut in Schumann’s Paradies und Peri. It was Johannes Brahms who accompanied the 20 years old singer in his songs. Like many Dutch singers she never appeared on stage, but became the most important contralto on the concert platform. For many years, she was a dominant figure in the contralto parts of Bach’s Passions, B-minor Mass, in Beethoven’s Symphony 9, in Mahler’s Symphonies 2 and 3, in Verdi’s Messa da Requiem and in works of contemporary composers. The duet singing together with the celebrated soprano Aaltje Noordewier-Reddingius belonged to the vocal highlights of the season. She was also a member of the singing quartet with Noordewier-Reddingius, Tom Denijs and Johannes Messchaert. De Haan also toured Germany, Austria, Switzerland and England. Maartje Offers was to become her most prominent student. Pauline De Haan died in Rotterdam, 1954.