ABBA

Oboist who has had many works dedicated to him, including Lucas van Altena Regteren’s “Divertimento”, written in 1957. In 1960, Graham Whettam penned his “Oboe Quartet No. 2” for Victor and the Netherlands Oboe Quartet. Likewise, Will Eisma composed “Diaphonia” for the foursome in 1962.

On 26^th December 1965, Victor collaborated with several musicians, including the Children’s Choir of Soester Cantorij, in a performance of Jan Wit’s radio play, Het bos der onbezorgde dieren.

He and cellist Max Werner, violinist Jan Wittenberg and violist Adriaan van ‘t Wout interpreted Rob du Bois’s “Quartet” on the 1966 recording, Opus 66.

Other groups with whom he performed include the CREA Orkest, the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Orkest van de Nederlandse Cantorij, and the Verenigd Utrechts Symfonie Orkest.

In 1968, the Orkest van de Nederlandse Cantorij released an album of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburgische Konzerte 1-6, and Nicola LeFanu unveiled her “Variations for Oboe Quartet”, with Victor in mind.

Victor was one of several soloists to appear on a Radio Nederland compilation in 1971. In 1973, the Orkest van de Nederlandse Cantorij appeared on an LP of Mozart concerti, including his “Oboe Concerto”, featuring Victor as the soloist.

On 20^th April 1991, he was a guest soloist with the Verenigd Utrechts Symonie Orkest for Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra”. He was one of many artists who lent their instrumental sound to the 1997 CD, Nu het Zover Is.

On 21^st December 2002, the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra and Groot Omroepkoor rang in the holidays with Roel van Oosten’s “Quatre Noels Anciens”, and Arvo Part’s “Cantus in memory of Benjamin Britten”, Alexandre Tansman’s oratorio, Isaie, le Prophete, and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on Christmas Carols”.

Victor Swillens celebrated his 80^th birthday at his home with over fifty of his friends on 27^th May 2008.

Sources: