The following were kindly made available by Jacques Franken (Antoinette's husband):
FRANKEN (previously KRIGE), ANTOINETTE, soprano
Antoinette Franken (previously Krige, born Oosthuizen) started her musical education and training at primary school. She passed her final singing examination with distinction in her final year at school whilst completing her Royal Schools of London final piano examination three years earlier, being the youngest candidate ever to pass this overseas examination. She studied at the University of Cape Town and was awarded the Performers Diploma in Opera with singing and piano as her majors. She studied singing under Madame Adelheid Armhold and later (during her CAPAB years) with Frederick Dalberg. She received her university piano tuition from Virginia Fortesque, Neil Solomon and Xenia Prokovorova.
She made her debut as a singer with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra whilst still a student and has been the only performer in the history of this orchestra who by public demand had to perform a second concert 14 days after her initial debut.
She has performed numerous leading roles for the various Regional Arts Councils in South Africa with casts that included many internationally acclaimed singers, conductors and producers.
For CAPAB she appeared as Frasquita (Carmen), Martha (Flotow), Adele (Fledermaus), Susanna (Marriage of Figaro), Laetitia (The Old Maid and the Thief), Suzel (L'amico Fritz), Olympia (Tales of Hoffman), First Lady (Magic Flute), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Violetta (La Traviata), Mimi (La Boheme), and Mistress Ford (Merry Wives of Windsor).
Antoinette was invited by the Cape Town University Opera School to sing the role of Mimi in La Boheme as part of the University of Cape Town’s 150th year celebrations.
In a PACOFS season she sang the role of Gilda (Rigoletto) and also perfomed in concert for this Council.
She also performed for PACT as Micaela (Carmen) and Musetta (La Boheme). She sang as guest artist for PACT at the opening of the State Opera Theatre in Pretoria in the role of Rosalinda (Fledermaus), as well as the soprano part in Beethoven's 9th Symphony. At the same time she was asked to understudy the role of Violetta in the PACT season of La Traviata with Adriana Maliponte and Alfredo Kraus.
She has also appeared as guest artist in a television series of musical performances at the famous historical Boschendal wine estate in program with Artemisio Paganini (violin) and Urliano Marcio (guitar).
She played a principal part in the Afrikaans movie Charlie Word 'n Ster (Charlie Becomes a Star) which was made in between opera seasons.
She also participated in many operatic concert tours for CAPAB.
Some of her poems were set to music by composer Marlene Wessels, and have been performed at the State Theatre in Pretoria in concert.
She relocated to Brisbane (Australia) in 2002 with her husband Jacques and their son Antoine.
