Katrien Baerts
Rising young Belgian soprano Katrien Baerts started her musical career with a master’s degree in both violin and voice at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. After graduating with distinction, she joined the Dutch National Opera Academy, where she performed roles as Annio in La clemenza di Titoin a staging by Floris Visser, Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herringstaged by Alexander Oliver, Despina in Così fan tutteand Amore and Valletto in l'Incoronazione di Poppea. Further roles in opera include her acclaimed debut at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam in the title role of the world première of Suster Bertkenby composer Rob Zuidam (recorded by Attacca), Johanna II in Rage d'Amours, as well as Stimme des Falken, Hüter der Schwelle and 1e Dienerin in Die Frau ohne Schattenat the ZaterdagMatinee. In 2013 she performed the main role of Amina in Bellini’s La Sonnambula.
She has been working with conductors such as Jonathan Berman, Reinbert de Leeuw, Richard Egarr, Vladimir Jurowski, Oliver Knussen, Henrik Schaefer and Otto Tausk. At the Royal Conservatory Katrien received the 'Bourgeois', 'Ingeborg Köberle' and 'Vindelinck' prizes for her outstanding performances. Furthermore, she entered the semi-finals at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition for Voice in 2011.
Being a versatile singer, Katrien performs in opera and oratorio, as well as in contemporary and chamber music. Her concert repertoire includes amongst others the Weihnachtsoratoriumwith the Amsterdams Bach Consort, the Stabat Materby Pergolesi at the Stift Festival, die Sieben frühe Liederby Alban Berg with Het Collectief at the Festival de Saintes, Kurtag's Akhmatova Liederat the Concertgebouw, the world première of Rob Zuidam's Canciones del Almaand Zuidam's McGonagall Liederat the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, recorded by Challenge Records. Since 2006 Katrien frequently gives recitals in duo with her regular piano accompanist Bart Verheyen.
Past engagements included amongst others Dvorak's Te Deumwith the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarméby Ravel with the Asko|Schönberg Ensemble, the world première of Rob Zuidam's Requiem. She made also her debut at the Barbican Center in London with music by Birtwistle (Birmingham Contemporary Music Group), concerts in Aldeburgh Festival with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, various concerts with Asko|Schönberg, a world premiere in the prestigious matinee in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam with a new composition of Theo Loevendie. In 2015 Katrien Baerts made her debut at the Dutch National Opera in Alban Berg’s Lulu with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and she was soloist in Mahler’s Fourth Symphony and Berg’s Sieben frühe Lieder with the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester.
Highlights of 2015-2016 included Mendelssohn’s Lobgesangwith the philharmonie zuidnederland, concerts with Ensemble Modern, Gubaidulina’s O komm, Heiliger Geist with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.
In the upcoming season Katrien Baerts will perform in Japan in a production of The House of the Sleeping Beauties with Opera House LOD, she will sing Britten’s Les Illuminations in Switzerland and will perform with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Klangforum Wien, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Residentie Orkest and she will sing with Asko|Schönberg at the Ruhrtriennale. Besides Katrien Baerts performs chamber music with Nieuw Amsterdams Peil, the Ferschtman Trio as well as several song recitals in the Netherlands and abroad.
Artists and performers
Flanders Arts Institute
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