Berdien Stenberg

In 1983 I was twelve years old and my dad got himself a new girlfriend called Berdien. That wasn't exactly a rare event as he's quite a charmer and, as a photographer, has been surrounded by beautiful women for most of his career. They met at his studio, during the shoot for the album cover of her debut, Rondo Russo.

Preferring brunettes, my father hadn't made a point of putting on the charm during the session and was a little surprised to find her still hanging around the studio by the time the journalist and record company people had gone. He was eager to pack up his equipment because there was an important football match on TV that evening which he didn't intend to miss. But Berdien showed no sign of leaving, even asking if she could stay to watch the match.

My father reluctantly agreed, fearing naive and irritating commentary throughout the match. However, Berdien's unexpected genuine love and knowledge of football won his heart that evening (or perhaps initially some other part of him) and she didn't leave until the following morning and soon returned for more football.

When I met her, during a visit from London to Amsterdam in the school holidays, she was perfectly friendly, although her early morning flute practice got on my nerves when I wanted to sleep in. She was on the brink of becoming the Richard Clayderman of the flute and for some inexplicable reason in July 1983, her single, Rondo Russo (which you can enjoy in the hilarious clip below) was number one on the Dutch charts for no less than twelve weeks!

They were together for a couple of years and I'm not sure why they broke up, but the muzak, fame and hairspray may have gone to her head. Also, my father adores classical music and I imagine that it's hard to date someone who consistently reduces the music you love into easy-listening elevator versions.

I wasn't so sad to see her go either as she was soon replaced by a brunette with whom I am still great friends today. All I have to remind me of Berdien is my pierced ears (no, not by her shrill flute, but pierced as in holes for earrings) which she paid for as a gift in a jewellery shop during one of my visits to Amsterdam.

According to her site, she now has three children, is politically active for the Dutch Christian Democrat party, CDA (why doesn't that surprise me?) and offers Flute Summer School for children. She is still destroying playing classical music and selling albums with names like Berdinerie and Flute Fiesta.