Felix van der Heyden

Originally a pavior, he was one of the discoveries of Karel Locufier, who was the legendary director of the Ghent opera theater from 1961 to 1972, forming a completely new troupe when he took office: Van der Heyden was, after never completed musical studies, Locufier's heroic tenor, and one of the pillars of that troupe. For singing Don José, Van der Heyden was paid 300 Belgian Francs per evening, a laughable amount, but he was such a modest and affable person that he accepted.

In the early years of his career, his voice must have been splendid, as all who heard him in that period recall. He later also sang in Antwerp, and sometimes, he used the pseudonym Felix Vander. He harmed his voice and career by an unfortunate fondness for alcohol.