Bart Van Reyn
music director
A shared passion for the voice
Bart Van Reyn has been the music director of the Vlaams Radiokoor since 2019. His dynamic approach, profound knowledge of the repertoire, and immense passion for the craft perfectly match the DNA of the Radiokoor.
Together, they honor and keep the rich vocal past alive by shaping the history of tomorrow: acting as a radar for new musical and societal trends, while safeguarding and preserving our vocal heritage.
As one of Belgium’s most sought-after conductors of the new generation, Bart Van Reyn is at home in a wide repertoire: from baroque to contemporary, ranging from oratorio, opera, and orchestral songs to a cappella music – with the voice as the common thread. Between 2016 and 2022, Bart was the chief conductor of the Danish National Radio Choir, and since 2022, he has served as the principal guest conductor of Anima Eterna.
In addition, Bart is regularly invited to lead productions with internationally renowned choirs such as the Netherlands Chamber Choir, Cappella Amsterdam, the Netherlands Radio Choir, The Netherlands Bach Society, Collegium Vocale Gent, The Purcell Choir, MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, NDR Vokalensemble, Rundfunkchor Berlin, DR Vokalensemblet, and the BBC Singers.
"The Vlaams Radiokoor has a special gift to rapidly adapt to each musical style, which is necessary when one considers the variety in repertoire each season. I look forward to expanding the excellent reputation of the Vlaams Radiokoor on the national and international stages even further."
Broad horizons
Endless musical curiosity
Bart is the founder and driving force behind Octopus, a flexible choir of 24 to 80 semi-professional and professional singers, and Le Concert d’Anvers, a period-instrument orchestra focusing on 18th and early 19th-century repertoire. Their debut Haydn CD on the Fuga Libera label won widespread international acclaim.
Driven by a deep passion for opera, Bart co-founded the touring opera company The Ministry of Operatic Affairs alongside director Korneel Hamers, known for its productions of Don Giovanni, Orfeo ed Euridice, Così fan tutte, Dido & Aeneas, and Acis & Galatea.
From symphonic ally to contemporary creations
Alongside his own vocal projects, Van Reyn is a highly sought-after guest conductor with instrumental ensembles both at home and abroad, including the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, B’Rock, Casco Phil, Il Gardellino, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Brandenburger Symphoniker, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. He also recently made his debut with the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century and the Orfeo Orchestra Budapest.
Finally, his immense passion and expertise make Bart the ideal partner for contemporary composers, having collaborated with the likes of Steve Reich, Tan Dun, James MacMillan, and Kaija Saariaho.
In the spotlight: Diapason d'Or
In 2022, Bart’s debut oratorio recording of C.P.E. Bach's Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu with the Vlaams Radiokoor and Il Gardellino Orchestra (Passacaille Records) was awarded a Diapason d'Or. This prestigious accolade highlights his profound connection to vocal music and his unwavering dedication to producing exceptional recordings.
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“...magnificently performed by the Belgian ensemble gathered around Bart Van Reyn”
