Soundbits

21 december 2019
Marion van den Akker alto and Boudewijn Jansen piano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qUl39ZiIV8&feature=youtu.be

Kerstconcert 22 december 2018

Kerstconcert met o.a. Missa Brevis van Leonard Bernstein, die 100 jaar geleden geboren werd. De zelden uitgevoerde mis van Bernstein in vroeg-gregoriaanse stijl, was het laatste koorwerk dat Bernstein schreef.

Zie voor de uitvoerenden de film hieronder.

July 2018 Concert farm ‘Onder de Linden’ in Valthermond
Marion van den Akker en Willem Kersing
The whole cycle can be listened on YouTube ,

La Voix Humaine with Laura Bohn
Jeroen Sarphati piano
Marion van den Akker direction
Carel Braak registration

Songrecital Marion van den Akker alto-mezzo, Mikhail Zemtsov viola, Victoria Dmitrieva piano
Brahms op. 91, Morgen by R. Strauss in Valthermond, The Netherlands February 2016

Gustav Mahler – Urlicht – Marion van den Akker Mezzo Soprano, Jeroen Sarphati Piano

Improvisation at christmas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cez25-kOuKE&t=137s

My husband passed away in 2011 and left us great music!

For further information, see: valthermondrecordings.com

Dirigent Boudewijn Jansen
"Marion is één van die zeldzame artiesten die hun gehele artistieke, vakmatige en menselijke persoonlijkheid niet alleen delen met het publiek, maar ook met aankomende musici. Hier leer je: een goede zanger toont je zijn hart." boudewijnjansen.nl
Arash Roozbehi, baritone
" Working with Marion has been like opening a big window. Not only I gained new perspective by experimenting with my voice and body under her supervision. Also I found freedom since I’m finally able to breath. I’m feeling in control because I’ve learned to understand my body and it’s optimal way of functioning. Therefore I trust myself. Marion has proven to have broad knowledge about both singing and teaching singing. Her experiences as an opera singer, teacher and a person, together with her wonderful personality are what make her lessons extraordinary. Marion just catches your interest and total focus. She doesn’t let go. "

ArashRoozbehi.com
Emilie de Voght, soprano
"Marion ne possède non seulement une technique implacable, mais elle arrive également à la transmettre avec précision et dévouement, dévouement tant à l'élève qu'à l'art du chant. Et tout cela avec l'âme d'une musicienne qui supervise le tout." emiliedevoght.com
Laura Bohn, soprano
I remember the first question she asked me was "Do you love your voice?" and this was really remarkable to me - no teacher had ever asked me such a question, and honestly, self love and gentle care of my voice was not what I had been taught by classical teachers in the past. Not only is Marion tuned into this self-respect for the voice and the individual in singing, she is also a fierce technician with a finely tuned ear and dedication to precision and excellence. I feel more connected to my speaking voice than ever in my classical repertoire after working with her for this past year. laurabohn.com
Oxford Times
...Brahms' two songs op.91 sung by a mezzo of this quality, what a blissful experience they provided!
"Die ihr schwebet " brought tears to the eyes...
De Telegraaf, Netherlands
...verbluffend Russisch klonk de mezzo van Marion van den Akker. Ze boorde diepe Slavische tinten aan en bracht met haar idiomatische voordracht het hart in vervoering...
Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Rotterdam
... Marion van den Akker in her part as Feodor in "Boris Godunov" by Moussorgski has shown great musicality and an excellent command of the Russian language in the concerto's directed by me on February 5th and 6th, 2000 in the Hague and Amsterdam.
Trouw, Netherlands
... the colorite of van den Akker's voice fits the music ( Brahms Alto Rhapsody) as a glove ... A great achievement, bringing into mind Aafje Heynis' famous interpretation...
The Bath Evening Chronicle, Bath
...The warmth of ms. van den Akker's tone, combined with a glorious freedom of melodic line, revealed fresh beauties...
The Sunday Times, United Kingdom
...a voice rich and tender....
Eindhovens Dagblad, Netherlands
...Her fine mezzo voice, radiated and overwhelmed. Her identification with the songs ( Liszt) was heartwarming.....
Libération, Casablanca
Le public qui était venu au Complexe Culturel Sidi Belyout aura apprécié la puissance de voix de l'artiste, son intelligence et sa grande présence sur scene...
Everett Porter, producer & engineer Polyhymnia
A great acoustic for playing and recording chamber music in a picturesque dutch rural landscape, complete with high-end recording facilities. polyhymnia.com/names-faces/everett-porter
Michel Brandjes, Steinway & Sons technici
The beautiful acoustics in the room immediately make me think of those of the Jesus Christus Kirche in Berlin where Karajan recorded all his Beethoven Symphonies for DGG. michelbrandjes.com
Harro Ruijsenaars, cellist
In Valthermond, Rian de Waal has created an atmosphere that would be worthy of an international festival. It is surprising to find a concert hall in the middle of nowhere that fits seamlessly as a Drenthe gentlemen’s farmhouse in the surrounding landscape and sounds at least as good as the Recital Hall in the Concertgebouw. It is worth every bit of this trip, to speak in Michelin Guide terms.
Rob Metkemeijer, director Peutz bv
...a space that is acoustically right without any tricks being applied, with a natural, transparent but also spacious sound that makes it very suitable for chamber music concerts and recordings. The shape is unconventional for a studio or concert hall. That makes the sound distinctive and offers the creative user, musician and sound producer excellent possibilities.
Esther Kuiper (2)
These days, when focus and patience seem to be scarce, also in the field of vocal studies, Marion takes a difference by digging deep, helping me to find my path to freedom of vocal and artistic expression.
She teaches me how to do the neccessary vocal and artistic work and be patient, trusting that real quality will always stand out! She knows exactly how to help build a voice and give you the information and tools how to train your instrument in such a defined and detailed way, that I never experienced with any other teacher before. She never looses the big picture and adapts her teaching to the particular person she is working with. I feel truly blessed to have met Marion and to be able to work with her. estherkuiper.nl
Esther Kuiper (1)
For me, working with Marion means getting closer everyday to freedom of expression and being able to perform and share musical art in a honest, personal and fearless way. Keeping this artistic goal in mind, we come across all different aspects that are part of building a voice, a stage personality and a singing career. For all these matters I trust Marion's advice, for she is a true artist with lots of experience as an allround classical singer on the highest level, with great artistic vision, extensive technical know-how, and a great sense of humour. estherkuiper.nl
Fennique Keja
De kracht van Marion ligt in haar heel scherpe oordeelsvorming en juiste gevoel ten aanzien van de kwaliteit van zingen, muzikaliteit en persoonlijkheid. Ze laat een leerling groeien door telkens zowel technisch als muzikaal, het juiste aspect aan te pakken wat op dat moment nodig is. Daarbij kan ze haar diepgaande kennis halen uit een onuitputtelijke bron van haar rijke zangersleven. Ze stimuleert de ontwikkeling van een zanger niet alleen als zanger maar vanuit een ruime blik als mens in het geheel, om zo uit te groeien tot een persoonlijkheid. Haar enorme professionaliteit laat hierbij geen concessies toe.
Ruth Willemse
She is a real artist an gives tons of inspiration on the musical side and support on the difficult sides of being an artist, being a singer. She has used her network where she could and helped me further on the "market". I wouldn't be where I am now without her stable technique lessons, her ongoing support and the example of her powerful personality. ruthwillemse.com