WHERE
TVNZ Crystal Palace
ADMISSION
Adults $35.00 GA
(TECT $28.00)
Booking Fees Apply
(TECT $28.00)
Booking Fees Apply
DURATION
90 mins (plus interval)
Event Sponsor
Reviews
Brel is more than French; Brel is Poetry.
Micheline Van Hautem’s voice initially reminds one of Piaf, with her aud... more...
Micheline
Nyree Sherlock
Brel is more than French; Brel is Poetry.
Micheline Van Hautem’s voice initially reminds one of Piaf, with her audacious vibrato and her astounding ability to express raw emotion from every fibre of her being; this is a beautiful, brave, highly expressive singer, whose resonating voice exquisitely cuts to the core, leaving the onlooker mesmerised and wanting more. In ‘Brel,’ Micheline performs compositions of celebrated Belgium compatriot composer Jacques Brel, with a dynamic vocal precision that has to be experienced; the chanteuse moves like a magician, gracefully, yet deliberately, infusing each Brel composition with its essential dramatic tension. Micheline’s outstanding vocals are perfectly counterpoised by acoustic guitarist Erwin van Ligten, who achieves remarkable emotional complexity with his percussive style and masterful use of reverberation. Together they deliver Brel’s finest works, from the poetic brilliance of La Chanson des vieux amants, to the composer’s surreal homage to the Port of Amsterdam (Dans Le Port d'Amsterdam), to well loved favourites such as Ne Me Quitte Pas (If You Go Away). This was an absolutely outstanding performance by Micheline and van Ligten; I am now a Brel convert. Do not miss their second show, ‘Chocolat,’ this Friday 23 October.
Micheline Van Hautem’s voice initially reminds one of Piaf, with her audacious vibrato and her astounding ability to express raw emotion from every fibre of her being; this is a beautiful, brave, highly expressive singer, whose resonating voice exquisitely cuts to the core, leaving the onlooker mesmerised and wanting more. In ‘Brel,’ Micheline performs compositions of celebrated Belgium compatriot composer Jacques Brel, with a dynamic vocal precision that has to be experienced; the chanteuse moves like a magician, gracefully, yet deliberately, infusing each Brel composition with its essential dramatic tension. Micheline’s outstanding vocals are perfectly counterpoised by acoustic guitarist Erwin van Ligten, who achieves remarkable emotional complexity with his percussive style and masterful use of reverberation. Together they deliver Brel’s finest works, from the poetic brilliance of La Chanson des vieux amants, to the composer’s surreal homage to the Port of Amsterdam (Dans Le Port d'Amsterdam), to well loved favourites such as Ne Me Quitte Pas (If You Go Away). This was an absolutely outstanding performance by Micheline and van Ligten; I am now a Brel convert. Do not miss their second show, ‘Chocolat,’ this Friday 23 October.
Micheline Van Hautem has captivated audiences around the world with her smouldering versions of the songs of fellow countryman Jacques Brel.
Layer by layer, this Belgian singer peels off Brel’s poetry and passion so as to inhabit the core of love and longing.
In her second show, Chocolat, Micheline selects her Brel favourites and interweaves them with songs she has written with such collaborators as Tim Finn and her own virtuoso guitarist Erwin van Ligten.
Micheline has played to packed houses at the Edinburgh Festival (winning a prestigious Herald Angel Award), Sydney Opera House, two sell out seasons at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and has recently completed a 60 date European tour with Jacques’ nephew and keeper of the Brel flame, Bruno Brel.
"Short of major surgery, cancel whatever you have on tonight and hear Micheline Van Hautem"
John Shand , Sydney Mornin g Herald
"Van Hautem has one of the best female voices I’ve heard in recent times - rich, edgy and powerful, it is also unashamedly sensual."
Rachel Haw key, The Press
"She is simply fabulous"
The Times