For years, Dutch opera critic Basia Jaworski and Klassiek Centraal maintained friendly, collegial relations. She was a remarkable woman, always cheerful and with a sharp, honest judgment about what she had just heard and seen. Whether we agreed on the substance or not, conversation with her was always enlightening, uplifting, educational, and warm.

The Netherlands loses one of its most important critics, particularly when it comes to opera. Who didn't she know? Whose work did she not hear and see? Whom did she not comment on? In recent years, things slowed down—Basia had been seriously ill for a long time, but despite her ongoing condition, she continued as best she could. In her final months, she was confined to her sickbed. Sadly, that's where she would say goodbye to the world. There would be no new pieces from her to read. Writing—not just about music—was simply her calling, though she could just as easily have become a concert pianist. In her youth, she was hailed as a piano prodigy. Despite not growing up with Dutch as her native language, she became a virtuoso of the written Dutch word, using it to serve music for many years. This wise, independent-minded artistic woman possessed an enormous knowledge of classical music in general, and certainly of opera.

If there were more critics like her, the world would be better for it. With her, it was never about 'knowing better than,' but about knowing through absorption, listening, sharing knowledge, exchanging feelings, and being as honest and pure as possible. That's not so simple, because listening to and experiencing music will always remain somewhat subjective, sometimes deeply personal.

For more about this colorful character, you can visit this link at Operamagazine. Like everyone else, we hold the best memories of Basia. May her writings continue to inspire and engage more people in the world of opera.