|
The Belgian soprano, Cristel De Meulder, studied at the Royal Flemish Conservatory of Music in Antwerp, where she obtained a first prize in chamber music and a superior diploma in voice. After master-classes in Lied interpretation with Noëlle Barker and Geoffrey Parsons and in Bach cantatas with Sigiswald Kuijken, she has continued her specialised studies in advanced vocal techniques with Ingrid Voermans at the “Lichtenberger Institut für Gesang und Instrumentalspiel”, directed by Gisela Rohmert.
Cristel De Meulder is in demand as a soloist in diverse projects ranging from early music to contemporary works, not only in her own country, but also in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Malta, Spain, Portugal, Scotland, etc. In 1990 she sang in the world premiere of the dramatic cantata Aquarius, by the contemporary Belgian composer Karel Goeyvaerts; she later appeared in the operatic version of this work in 1993 and on the CD recording in 1996. In 1992 she took a programme of baroque music for soprano, trumpet and organ on tour to Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and Singapore. In October 2002 she made a concert tour in South Africa together with Jan Van Mol. February 2003 she starred at the "Bamboo Organ Festival" in Las Piñas (Philippines).
Cristel De Meulder has worked as a free-lance member of the Flemish Radio and Television Chorus, participating in many radio, film, and CD recordings, including the sound track for “Daens” by Dirk Brossé. For the radio, she performed a song cycle with guitar composed especially for her by Jan Van Landeghem. As a member of the Currende Consort, directed by Erik Van Nevel, she has appeared as a soloist in many concerts and television programmes and in several noteworthy CD recordings, including the 10-volume series “Flemish Polyphony” and “The Profane Motets of Orlandus Lassus”.
Cristel De Meulder's repertoire embraces wide spectrum: oratorios, cantatas, passions, orchestral masses, chamber music, and the classic religious repertoire for all occasions. She is no stranger to contemporary music, appearing regularly with the Goeyvaerts Ensemble, directed by Mark De Smet. She also has an affinity for the romantic Flemish repertoire, sacred as well as profane, in works for solo voice with accompaniment by organ, harmonium, or piano.
With the organist/harpsichordist Jan Van Mol, Cristel De Meulder has recorded 2 highly-praised CD’s, “Exsultate, Jubilate” (famous Sacred Songs) and “Tota Pulchra Es” (Flemish religious melodies). For a number of years she has formed a duo with Jan Van Mol, performing in Belgium and abroad. In 1998 they established the Calcant society, presenting their own specialised programmes with which they wish to foster the love of the organ, but also including a significant vocal contribution. Familiar and less familiar composers are well represented, as well as some others long forgotten.
he Flemish romantic religious repertoire also figures prominently in the programmes.
Since 2001 Cristel De Meulder has been one of the artistic directors of the Artist’s Foundation at Antwerp’s historic St. Charles Borromeo Church, which has presented, for the past 70 years, a broadly diversified programme for their extremely popular Sunday Artist’s Mass. |
