Photography: Noah Valentyn
Styling & MUAH: Sjoerd Willemsen
Interview: Paul Hofman
Not only as an ambassador for Pride Amsterdam does opera singer Francis van Broekhuizen (42) make her dream debut, but later this year at the Nationale Opera as well. Between her various performances she talks about her life, work, ambassadorship and life motto. “Humour makes life lighter.”
She could never have imagined becoming an opera singer at a young age. She grows up with two brothers in the affluent town of Wassenaar, and after secondary school she starts training in social work. After her classes she spends a lot of time on opera and singing, pouring her heart and soul into it. After completing her studies she decides to follow her heart. Francis goes to study voice in Amsterdam.
A good choice, as it soon proves. She becomes a familiar face in the Dutch opera world, singing with renowned companies such as Nederlandse Reisopera, Opera Zuid and Opera Spanga.
Since she was sixteen, Maria Callas has been her great hero. “She was the greatest opera singer of the twentieth century. It was partly because of her singing and her artistry that I wanted to sing opera. Her life also captured my imagination: it was so intense.” She had Callas’s photos all over her teenage bedroom. “We all need people who can be role models. People you can mirror yourself on or draw strength from.”
Francis has wonderful memories of the EuroPride Gay Choir Festival she hosted at the Concertgebouw two years ago. “Amazing!”
This year will undoubtedly be a Pride she will never forget. “Apparently I’m seen as an example because I present naturally as a lesbian. I really want to show young people that you are allowed to be who you are. I want to give them encouragement.”
Francis’s motto? “That with everything you are and do in life you should try to be as true to yourself as possible. That’s what has brought me to where I am today.”
There’s no doubt she will be heard — literally and figuratively — everywhere during Pride.
“HOMOSEXUALITY MUST NEVER BE AN ISSUE”
Pride Ambassador since 2018
