Biography

René van Sluis, born in Wormerveer, started at a very young age his pianostudy with his mother. A short time thereafter he began to perform in recitals en concerts. When he was 11 years old he was introduced to the famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein. After his college years he studied with Karel Hilsum at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam. At the age of 25 the well-known singing teacher Maartje Kliffen discovered his voice and advised him to start singing studies. After these studies he went studying at the Conservatorium of Arnhem, with Aafje Heynis where he graduated cum laude.

After his years at the Conservatorium, he continued his studies in Netherlands with Coby Riemersma, Bernard Kruysen, Cristina Deutekom (opera repertoire) and in Cologne with the well-known vocal pedagogue Professor Dr Josef Metternich.

His successful singing career has brought him on the biggest stages in Europe: Cologne, London, Birmingham, Antwerp, Brussels, Verviers, the Scala of Milan and repeatedly in the Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

He has given concerts in both oratorios and operas and liedrecitals for which he has a great love (Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Duparc), where he was regularly accompanied by pianist Eva Scholtens.

Since the end of his singing career he focuses again on studying piano.When René van Sluis is asked why the piano again?

"Singing and playing the piano are in one line to me. Bel Canto, which you hear in Bellini arias (Casta Diva), resounds in the melodic lines that Chopin wrote in e.g. his nocturnes. Chopin sent his pupils on singing lessons. In the breath of singing lies a large affinity with the beautiful legato arches, so common in the many melodies of all his works. This can lead to a deeper connection with the stillness and the melancholy what this music so deeply asks for."