Biography

"Katrien Baerts glorifies with a pristine and enchanting sound,
which is unmistakably based on a strong technical base." (Volkskrant 6 December 2010)

Born in Hasselt, the Belgian soprano Katrien Baerts started her singing education at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels with Beatrijs de Vos. Besides her vocal studies Katrien followed a Master in violin, which she successfully finished in June 2006. In 2008 she graduated as a Master in voice with great distinction at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels whereafter she was a member of the 'Dutch National Opera Academy' in Amsterdam for two years under the guidance of Alexander Oliver.

As an opera singer Katrien performed both Amore and Valletto in L'Incoronazione di Poppea by Monteverdi, Despina in Mozarts Così fan tutte, Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring by Britten and Annio in Mozarts La clemenza di Tito at the 'Dutch National Opera Academy'. In the summer of 2008 she was invited to sing at the 'Fest zur Festspieleröffnung' in Salzburg. In December 2010 Katrien sang Johanna II in Rage d'Amours by Rob Zuidam with the Residentie Orkest conducted by Otto Tausk and made her debute at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam (ZaterdagMatinee) with the title role in the world première of Suster Bertken by Rob Zuidam with the Asko|Schoenberg Ensemble conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw. In August 2011 Katrien will be playing Lucy in The telephone by Menotti.

As a soloist Katrien performed amongst others Hör mein Bitten by Mendelssohn with the 'Choir of the Conservatory of Brussels', A Ceremony of Carols by Britten and Requiem by Daley with the 'Manteliusensemble'. In 2007 Katrien performed Socrate by Satie in Ottignies conducted by Bart Bouckaert and in 2010 she brought Five images after Sappho by Salonen in the Stadsgehoorzaal in Leiden with the Ligeti Academy. Katrien has worked with conductors such as Jonathan Berman, Peter Broadbent, Jos Cuppens, Reinbert de Leeuw, Richard Egarr, Henrik Schaefer, Michael Scheck and Otto Tausk. In May 2012 Katrien is again invited at the Asko|Schoenberg Ensemble where she will be singing the McGonagall Lieder by Zuidam conducted by O. Knussen.

An avid chamber musician, Katrien as a great liking for contemporary composers. She collaborated with composers as Fontyn, Coryn, Lenaerts, Saariaho and Raminsh. In 2009 Katrien performed a recital with harpist Anneleen Lenaerts. Since 2006 Katrien forms a Lied duo with pianist Bart Verheyen. Together they have been selected to participate in the 'International Lied Masterclasses' with Udo Reinemann and internationally renowned musicians as Helmut Deutsch, Julius Drake, Hartmut Höll, Roger Vignoles and Edith Wiens. This collaboration also resulted in performances of amongst others Harawi by O. Messiaen in the spring of 2008, a German romantic Lied recital with Liederkreis opus 39 by R. Schumann in 2009 and 'In Exile', a recital with music by Zemlinsky, Korngold, Eisler and Weill in 2010. Engagements for 2011 are amongst others Seven romances on poems by Alexander Blok by Shostakovich and Chansons Madécasses by Ravel with 'Het Collectief'.

Katrien became a Semi-Finalist of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for voice in 2011. She also obtained the prizes 'Bourgeois', 'Ingeborg Köberle' and 'Vindelinck' for her work as an exceptionally praiseworthy student at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Currently she continues to study with Valérie Guillorit with the financial support of STROOM, the cultural subsidy for promising talent of Province of Limburg.

May 2011

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