I’m delighted to be joining Baidar Al Basri to sing the solos in Karl Jenkins’s ‘Stabat Mater.’ This beautiful oratorio, built around the thirteenth century hymn, can be performed with an Arabic singer and a western alto. For me, the presentation of two different vocal styles within the story of Mary’s grief shows how, regardless of how we look and sound, we can be united in emotions such as grief, hope, and love. This is particularly poignant given the war that is raging in the world today.

The concert will be conducted by Martin van der Brugge and features the Residentie Koor and their orchestra, and guest musicians Cora Greevenbosch (bansuri) and Niek van der Meij (organ). They will also perform extracts from ‘The Golden Bird,’ and Iraqi oratorio for peace.

Saturday 6th April, Kloosterkerk, The Hague, the Netherlands

For tickets, please visit this page.

I’m really looking forward to singing with the Koninklijke Harmonie Oosterbeek (Royal Concert Band, Oosterbeek) and conductor Jurgen Nab again this weekend. They have prepared a programme of music which is mostly from the New World, including works by Bernstein, Dvořák and Hess.

I’ll be singing “Stufen” by Jacob de Haan, a stunning setting of Hesse’s poem with echoes of Wagner and Strauss, and Russalka’s “Song to the Moon.”

Sunday 25th February, Musis Sacrum, Arnhem, the Netherlands

For tickets, please visit this page.

During the lockdowns, I recorded vocals for a project by Vivienne Aerts which was built around empowering women and sustainability. The album, “Typuhthâng,” was produced in collaboration with Original Beans Chocolate, and the aim was to empower the female cacao farmers of Virunga State Park in Congo and replant the rainforest while raising awareness of the plight of women and nature in the Congo.

As well as original songs, the album includes soundscapes from the Congo. It’s exciting and fresh, and I believe best enjoyed while savouring some Original Beans Chocolate.

After the project, Vivienne interviewed the collaborators. You can find my interview here:

Spotify – https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vivienne-aerts

Apple Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vivitalks/id1728118735