Personal

Married, 4 children.

Interested in poetry, history and classical music.

Enjoy cycling, walking and running.

Degree in piano at the Music Academy of Aalst (Belgium) (1975-84). Singing classes at the Music Academy of Leuven (1996-98), Music Academy of Turnhout (2013-…). Member of the University of Chicago Choir (1989), the University of London Chorus (1991-93), of the Royal Choral Society (London, 1993-95), Vocal Ensemble Florilegium (Leuven, 1996), Vocal Ensemble OrSeCante (Leuven, 1996-97), the Capilla Mercuriale (KULeuven, 1996-98), the Kempense Oratorium Vereniging (Turnhout, 1999-2003), and Tourdion Leuven (2011).

Some Favourite CDs:

  1. Le Chant de Virgile by Josquin Desprez, Roland Lassus, Adriaan Willaert etc. (Huelgas ensemble directed by Paul van Nevel; Harmonia Mundi)

  2. Tenebrae Responsories by Tomas Luis de Victoria (The Sixteen directed by Harry Christophers – Virgin Classices)

  3. Officium Defunctorum / Missa Pro Defunctis by Cristobal de Morales (La Capella Reial da Catalunya / Hespèrion XX directed by Jordi Savall)

  4. Theophanie: Orthodox Chant (Choir of the Monestery of Chevetogne)

  5. Lagrime de San Pietro by Roland de Lassus (Ensemble Vocal Europeen directed by Philippe Herreweghe)

  6. O Gemma lux by Guillaume Dufay (Huelgas Ensemble directed by Paul van Nevel – Harmonia Mundi)

  7. The Pilgrimage to Santiago: New London Consort directed by Philip Pickett (L’Oiseau-Lyre)

  8. Romances Sefardes dans l’empire de la Sublime Porte by Accentus Austria directed by Thomas Wimmer (Arcana)

  9. Diaspora Sefardi, Romances y Musica Instrumental by La Capella Reial da Catalunya / Hespèrion XXI directed by Jordi Savall

  10. Carlos V – Mille Regretz: La Cancion del Emperador by La Capella Reial da Catalunya / Hespèrion XXI directed by Jordi Savall

  11. Paraisos Perdidos – Christophorus Columbus by La Capella Reial da Catalunya / Hespèrion XXI directed by Jordi Savall

  12. Miguel de Cervantes – Don Quijote de la Mancha – Romances y Musicas by La Capella Reial da Catalunya / Hespèrion XXI directed by Jordi Savall

  13. Fiesta Criolla – Une fete pour la Vierge de Guadelupe a Sucre (1718) by Ars Longa de La Havana directed by Gabriel Garrido (K617)

  14. Flow my tears (Songs from the first booke of songs 1597 and the second booke 1600) by John Dowland (Metronome)

  15. Opus Ultimum by Heinrich Schutz (Collegium Vocale directed by Philippe Herrewege)

  16. Te Deum by Antonio Teixeira (The Sixteen directed by Harry Christophers – Collins Classics)

  17. Cello Suites 1-6 by J.S. Bach (M. Rostropovich ; Phillips)

  18. Missa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez (Coral Salve de Laredo directed by Jose Luis Ocejo – Philips recording)

  19. Lachrimae Caravaggio composed by Jordi Savall / texts Dominique Fernandez (Le concert de nations, Hesperion XXI)

  20. Canon Pokaianen by Arvo Paert (Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir directed by Toenu Kaljuste)

  21. Vigilia by Einojuhani Rautavaara (Finnish Radio Chamber Choir directed by Timo Nuoranne)

  22. The protecting veil by John Tavener (the Royal Philharmonic directed by Justin Brown)

  23. The Well by Chava Alberstein.



Some books I recently (re)read:

  1. Historiae by Herodotos

  2. Worldhistory by Polybios

  3. Odes by Horatius

  4. Odysseus Unbound by Robert Bittlestone

  5. Alexander by Valerio Massimo Manfredi

  6. Verdadera Historia de la Conquista de Nueva España by Bernal Dias Del Castillo

  7. Einstein’s dreams by Alan Lightman

  8. De naam van de roos (The name of the rose) by Umberto Ecco

  9. Honderd engelen by Anselm Grun.

  10. Totalite et Infini by Emmanuel Levinas


Some poets

Anton van Wilderode (De Vlinderboom), Fernand Florizoone (Rituelen van kwetsbaarheid); Jan Veulemans (Verzamelde gedichten)


Some favourite films (random order):

  1. The English patient by Anthony Minghella

  2. Trois couleurs: Bleu by Krzysztof Kieslowski

  3. The merchant of Venice by Michael Radford

  4. La gloire de mon père / Le chateau de ma mère by Yves Robert

  5. Heimat by Edgar Reitz

  6. Jean De Florette / Manon Des Sources by Claude Berri

  7. Il postino by Michael Radford

  8. The remains of the day by James Ivory

  9. Das Boot by Wolfgang Petersen

  10. Amadeus by Milos Forman

  11. The girl with the pearl earring by Peter Webber

  12. La double vie de Veronique by Krzysztof Kieslowski

  13. The talented Mr. Ripley by Anthony Minghella

  14. Howard’s End by James Ivory

  15. Die Grosse Stille (Le Grand Silence / Into great silence) by Philip Groening