2002, Saint Louis, Missouri." To which the maestro briefly responded: "Ladies and gentlemen, since I'm a United States conductor I'm supposed to say something to the audience. I would like to thank you for your presence through this six years. Everything I have to say happened tonight on stage." The SLSO dedicated a program of Hector Berlioz's Requiem to him after his death. Final years In March 2002, Vonk was named chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Symphony (NRSO). He held the post for the 2003–2004 season, and was the orchestra's last chief conductor before its disbandment. His illness had debilitated him to the point that he conducted several NRSO concerts from a wheelchair. On 29 August 2004, Vonk died in his Amsterdam home and is buried in that city under the epitaph (in English): Music was his life.Now it brings usSolace and serenity. Luuk Reurich wrote a biography of Vonk, Hans Vonk, Een dirigentenleven (Hans Vonk, A Conductor's Life), published in 2006. Vonk's recordings are on the Chandos and Denon labels, among others, and include two CDs of the Dutch composer Alphons Diepenbrock. Vonk was regarded as a specialist in the music of Anton Bruckner as well as an advocate of the music of Peter Schat, including conducting the world premiere of Schat's stage work Houdini. Vonk's widow, Jessie, moved to Tasmania where she founded the Hans Vonk Music House, a chamber music venue dedicated to her husband's memory. Recordings Fauré & Schoenberg – Pelléas et Mélisande. Hans Vonk, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. PENTATONE PTC 5186324 (2008) Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 4. Hans Vonk, Esther Heideman, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. PENTATONE PTC 5186323 (2008) Mozart – Symphony No. 40 & Beethoven – Symphony No. 7. Hans Vonk, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. PENTATONE PTC 5186322 (2008) Beethoven – Symphony No.1 & Brahms – Symphony No. 4. Hans Vonk, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. PENTATONE PTC 5186318 (2007) Johannes Brahms – The Final Sessions of Hans Vonk. Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra. PENTATONE PTC 5186045 (2005) Johannes Brahms – Symphony No.2 & Tragic Overture. Hans Vonk, Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra. PENTATONE PTC 5186042 (2004) References External links 1942 births 2004 deaths Deaths from motor neuron disease Neurological disease deaths in the Netherlands Dutch conductors (music) Male conductors (music) Musicians from Amsterdam Music of St. Louis 20th-century conductors (music) 20th-century Dutch male musicians People with Guillain–Barré syndrome