Losing your heart in Berlin or Paris

Losing your heart in Berlin or Paris

So new blog January is such a dull month finish what’s left of last year but new ideas taking over your mind. So with piles of administration of last year (yes I know I should keep it up better) and a mind full of ideas I write this blog.

And just a note my blogs are my personal perspective on my life and no theatre or concert reviews. But I love to use these shows as a nice threat in my writing.

Now I ended up in a last minute crazy idea to go to Rob Kemps show Hemel op Aarde (Snollebollekes guy you know from Left to right). But instead of an audience of party people but the  average age of my opera choir would be a perfect fit and a few couples of my age. So yes no party but a show about the most famous cemetery of Paris. I should have went for a full goth look that would fit the mood (not the audience nor artist) but a sneaky Veljanov’s shirt might already do the trick or test Rob on his knowledge about Brel.

What Rob has with Paris I have with Berlin.
I deeply respect Rob and I would love to sit with him one day and talk about music and art. But I don’t know much about Paris. I found my love  for the city of Berlin. Every time I see an ICE a nice silver bullet between all those yellow with blue trains my heart makes a jump. I want to board it and hope it will take me to Berlin. Visit places the roots of the art I love the small streets of Kreuzberg the rare non tourist one that reminds me of a time of rebellious art. A sense of ever longing freedom even the wall is gone. Even the city has changed I will always love it. Where Rob told the story of him going to the Bar of the roots of the chassions. I’m proud I can say I have been to the K17 the iconic venue for underground and industrial music.
But like Rob told about his meetings an places where his idols have been that he has been there to. I can see I have been on the same stage as he just here in my town Oss. We both have been on the main stage of the Lievekamp no one can take that away from me.

Crowds, one thing I have in common with Rob is that I don’t like crowds. For me that keeps the dream of being on stage to see and feel the crowd but not beeing a number in the mass. Or go with my camera being there in my own bubble with my own personal spaces. Like yesterday I was on the side of row one (number 3 counted from stage) and the couple beside me didn’t show up. And I loved my personal space from left to right no one and even in front of me there was the isle. So I could enjoy the show from inside my own bubble.

But back to my t-shirt. After the show I start talking with a man he made a comment on my t-shirt. He asked me if It was a Jim Morrison shirt but then sees Veljanov on it. So there it it we talked about music he about his love for music from Paris and me about the beauty of the music from Berlin how love for music unites.

And a friend told me it’s oke to groupie now and then. And it’s true we should allow it ourselves and enjoy it. Just for the magic of the moment. Because one day all our inspirations our personal idols will and op in a place like  Père Lachaise. So sometimes really just sometimes I will let myself groupie. But also I see the artist sapreated from the person itself.

But one thing if Rob wil go before me and even he will be buried in “just” Best. I will take my grandchild to your grave and make my first true Left to Right. And if I can not do it my self then I hope my grandchild will read this and do it for me. Thats I wish I would love to grant for him.


With love,
Hélène

With trust you find magic

With trust you find magic

It sounds so simple trust others and it sounds like an cheesy meme where I would roll my eyes when passing it on socials. But maybe it’s because I haven’t worked in music/art for years that I have a fresh look on everything. It’s all about accepting and connecting with the people you work with. Sometimes it’s communicating with one look or a step aside to direct the whole scene. Or work with someone you look up to but you do not freeze of their knowledge or ego but trust and lean on their experience.

We can learn from the books and over theorize ourself. But even Lisbeth List the queen of Dutch Chasson’s couldn’t even read sheet music but she know how to put the “gefühle” (feeling) in the songs.  So yes sometimes we are starstruck or should allow ourself to groupie. Other times we look through the illusions and lift each other and make magic.

Last year I learned to work with other artist and trust on the conductor you work with. Like our own conductor Hans always says: “rather sing a wrong note and connect to the audience than keep your head in your book.”
And he’s right trust on yourself and you team you don’t have to do it on your own. Be sure you know your focus parts and solo’s out of your head so you can shine when you need to. But blend in or let others shine when it’s their turn.   

Making art for me is not always be in the front. It’s not trying to outshine others (even it’s tempting sometimes). But is being patient know your place in the team. Knowing your not just a member of the choir or band but you are A member of it. Learn from others who take the lead and take your chance when it’s given. But also trust that you solo will come when you are ready. The more you trust the more confidence you will grow and that will make you grow as an artist.



Connecting is like rebuild someting old.
Break down the walls,
Make a solid foundation
And build the bridge



With love,
Helene


Photo gallery concert Klank in de Kerk – Harmonie Semper Crescendo Reek (NL)
Pictures by Gerold Smits

What a year where I found myself

What a year where I found myself

Early this I would not believe to be where I stand now.  It’s also my first year that I have kept my new year resolution: Just do what makes you happy.
It sounds a bit cheesy but this mindset slowly become an open door to possibilities. I face my own problems physically and mentally. I said goodbye to all that doesn’t please my anymore and embraced where my soul takes me. My soul brought me to old friends and new places. Redefined love, friendship and embraced the flow of the sun and moon.


No I do not dance naked under the full moon or go Stonehenge during midsummer soliste. I’m more of classic philosophy and give in to listen to ravings in my head. So sometimes I write again and started to make pictures.  And even start experimenting with covers just to work on my confidence and I’m surprised that I still upload an weekly cover. So now time to try to write some music of my own and experiment with finding my own sound.


For next year?
Well I wrote on my Facebook page next you my goals is to build bridges. From this year rediscover myself to next year build bridges and find myself as an artist to create art again in whatever the form will be  crochet, photography, poetry or even music…..



Just live you own dreams

What are  your goals for 2025?



Helene


Now I can say I’m a opera singer!

Now I can say I’m a opera singer!

Without even crossing the border back home (however borders only exist in our minds) and with the magic of the Veljanov’s concert still in my head. It’s head in the books and EarPods in the ears and last minute studying of The Armed Man of Jenkins while the silver train brings me home. However home is where the heart is so maybe I should have stayed in Berlin. But back to reality it’s a week of working, rest, working, photo editing, working, rehearsals, working, photo editing, working, rehearsals, preform, preform.

The Armed Man

When I got the news early this year that we would sing The Armed Man it was exited however one side it’s a little bit to filmish bombastic piece the more and more I dig in to it the more I loved it. We did it with the vision of 80 years of liberty of the south of the Netherlands. When I grew up sometimes my grandfather told me stories of the WOII how he had to work in Germany. He was one of those Dutch gentleman who did not hate Germans  but he only hated Nazis. My dad always served the Dutch military and has been to Afghanistan for two times. So I grew up always aware that he’s a lot away and worked a lot Germany. Mabe that where my rebellion to learning German as a child came from or it’s just it’s because it to similar to Dutch. I personally love the German culture specially around Christmas, so as Dutch as I am yes I do that in Germany. So here I’m back where I stared this blog: Borders only exist in our minds. Just like enemies grow out of fear of what we do not know. Sometimes we need to face our past first to start something new.

Not only singing The Armed Man but the whole last two weeks where a personal journey of reflection and grow. As a photographer a singer and as a person.

Now I can call myself a opera singer
Well I’m just a hobby singer in a local opera choir but it’s fun and helps. It also helps me with my tinnitus and hyperacusis. The last weeks I learned I have a neurologic tinnitus /hyperacusis so if I’m relax and my tinnitus/hyperacusis relax to. But they say after two years you can say I’m a opera singer. And the last two years my life started to flip back 180degrees back to my true love, music. Last year we celebrated 90 years of Osse Opera it was a nice mash up of opera an theatre  and after that we went of a spring concert. So I learned a lot and specially for this last opera I learned several techniques that really makes my jaw stronger. I don’t have big plans I still love to be at the local opera and learn from Hans Lamers and the choir member and experiment at home. So singing is my therapy and love.

And now off to work 21 December we have a concert in a church in Reek. With some Jenkis, Orff, Verdi and Mozart. So a nice mesh up again and a lot to learn in a few weeks.

So after two weeks it’s take some rest, recharge and restart it all again and see what the future will bring.

The Armed Man – A mass for Piece
Written by: Karl Jenkins
Executive conductor: Sef Pijpers Jr.
Osse opera conductor: Hans Lamers
Bosche Opera conductor: Wim Reijnders
Solo: Lucie van Ree & Zaid Tayem
Location:  Jheronimus Bosch Art Centre in ’s-Hertogenbosch
Date: 16 & 17 November  2024 (sold out)

Harmonie Wilhelmina  den Dungen,
Vereniging Bosche Opera
Osse Opera Vereniging
And guest choir singers and artist

Last rehearsal pictures by Gerold Smits

Concert saterday by Gerold Smits

Pictures I made

I’m back in photography

I’m back in photography


Well I guess I can say this is part two of my nostalgic blog (here is part one). After making pictures at  Deine Lakaien in Planetarium Bochum it was now time to go back to concert venue’s again. The lighting will be completely different just like the crowd. So like the old days let’s go in the photopit!

It’s almost strange to  think that it was over a decade that I have been in the photopit. But maybe it was the magic of Bochum still in my head or the nostalgic theme of the Veljanov tour that made that time hasn’t past. There where a lot of trusted faces that also makes it more comfortable to make pictures. Like Marcus Testory was also 2008 when I have had him in front of my camera for a report “a day with Chamber.”


While the concert in Oberhausen felt like just old school with the type of hall and the dancing people. Berlin felt really special to me. Being there thinking of the cd presentation of Porta Macedonia 16 years ago. The interview with Alexander at Summer Darkness festival in Utrecht 15 years. Celebrating 25 years Secrets of the Silver Tongue and this all on the day that 35 years ago the Berlin wall fell.


Berlin was a evening not just being nostalgic but also one of breaking my own walls that I build up. Walls that I build up to hide my grief and lost vision on where the heart takes you. It was like a coming home again. I guess just to pet my ego maybe I felt the “Anton Corbijn” of the evening and Alexander Veljanov is  for me like what’s Bono for Anton Corbijn.  That one person in front of you camera  that somehow works like magic and always let’s you be on your best.

We will see what the future brings.

Photoseries:
Pictures of Oberhausen 2024
Pictures of Berlin 2024

Leave behind what needs to be left behind
Embrace the sun and touch the sky
Sometimes when we think it’s the end
It’s just the beginning

Helene Smits

Veljanov & Die Kammer – Peter Edel Kulturzentrum Berlin (DE) 7-11-2024

Veljanov & Die Kammer – Peter Edel Kulturzentrum Berlin (DE) 7-11-2024

What a great time to be back in Berlin. The first and last time I made concert pictures in Berlin was 2008. It was a 26h visit to Berlin including drive. That was to the cd presentation of Veljanov Porta Macedonia album. So now after to lang ago back to Berlin and nog with was an upgraded trip of 60h or in short words nice weekend away. The atmosphere was great and Die Kammer was a great party again to warm up the venue. The evening was a nice celibration of Veljanov Secrets of the Silver Tongue. This nostalgic tour and specially Berlin really brought me back to 2008.

Veljanov

Die Kammer

Veljanov & Die Kammer – Kulttempel Oberhausen (DE) 7-11-2024

Veljanov & Die Kammer – Kulttempel Oberhausen (DE) 7-11-2024

After 14 years it I have had the honor er make pictures again of a Veljanov concert. And it was the first tour after so manny years. But still it was time hasn’t past and the atmoshpere was great. Die Kammer was also a perfect combination to warm up the venue.

Veljanov

Die Kammer