“… , face à la Despina survoltée de Dorine Mortelmans, voix claire et juste, projection parfaite et drôlerie irrésistible.” Martine Mergeay – La Libre full article
“Côté vocal, saluons notamment la Despina espiègle de Dorine Mortelmans” critiques_musique full article
“Een goede Despina steelt altijd de show, en dat was deze keer zeker het geval met Dorine Mortelmans. Haar stem klonk soms wat hees, maar dat belemmerde haar niet om een spittante en vocaal kleurrijke Despina neer te zetten.” Il Grand’ Inquisitor full article
“ Le rôle de seconde soprano, Ismène (…) est vaillamment tenu par Dorine Mortelmans, au timbre plus uniment sombre et d’une belle homogénéité vocale. “
My season 23-24 came to an end this week with two wonderful concerts of our Liedduo. Almost time for a break, but first I take the time to share these things with you:
The day before our premiere of Mitridate, I was interviewed by Cara Van der Auwera in Music Matters by Klara, the flemish classical radio. You can relisten on VRTmax (starting at 1:21:39 – in Dutch).
As fraternal rivalry ignites, the music unleashes all its splendid virtuosity. Mitridate, re di Ponto, Mozart’s first opera seria, already bears the stamp of the genius that would manifest so prodigiously in his later works. Composed in 1770 to an Italian libretto inspired by Racine’s eponymous play, the work depicts a dynastic drama in which two rival brothers and their domineering father vie for power and the hand of the same princess. All the while, Roman forces are preparing to storm the region today known as Crimea. The characters – their ambitions, their contradictions, their passions – are portrayed with an unsettling truth, especially given that the composer was only 14 years old.
Staging Eric Gobin Musical direction Thibaut Lenaerts
Mitridate Stefan Sbonnik Aspasia Gianna Cañete Gallo Sifare Dennis Orellana Farnace Pieter De Praetere Ismene Dorine Mortelmans Arbate Sonia Sheridan Jacquelin Marzio Mathis Van Cleynenbreugel Actors Sina Noushmehr, Hamza Zairaf
With the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie
Pianists Lionel Bams, Noemi Biro, Arnaud Dos Santos Staging assistant Charlie Cattrall Language coach Italian Primo Lunghi Dramaturge Keith Tillotson Set Frédéric Philippe Costumes Eric Gobin
Sung in Italian with surtitles in Dutch and French Introductions in Dutch or French one hour before curtain up Duration 3 hours with intermission
The new Art Song Duo of soprano Dorine Mortelmans and pianist Barbara Baltussen presents the avant-premiere of their Clair de Lune – program through live streaming on the 9th of January 2021 at 20pm. The moon shall shine her light on Lieder and music for solo piano by Debussy, Poulenc and Fauré. Marieke van Hooff takes care of the presentation.
Two weeks ago Dorine Mortelmans and Barbara Baltussen had the first rehearsals for their new Art Song Duo. Following the Duo is possible on Facebook @duomortelmansbaltussen. First concert in January 2021!
(UPDATE)
On January the 9th there will be a special live stream concert Clair de lune at 20:00. They will bring Lieder and music for solo piano from Debussy, Poulenc and Fauré. As the title suggests, it’s going to be a program in a mysterieus atmosphere that invites the audience to use their imagination … (Program & song texts)
This concert will be the ‘avant-première’ of the concert on Januari 16th at 12:00 and 13:15 in Kamermuziek ‘s-Hertogenbosch. – CANCELLED
Blumenstrauß is the title of their next concert on the 3th of April at 20:00 in Amuz (Antwerp), accessible for audience in person as well as on live stream. They will be treated with a bouquet of songs about flowers from R. Strauss, Webern and others.
Dorine Mortelmans 