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

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