|
Stemming from Swedish choral tradition, the Swedish-Dutch mezzo-soprano, Helena van Heel, has developed into a many-sided mezzo soprano with a velvety voice and ability to touch her audience deeply. At an early age she joined the local children’s choir in the northern Swedish mining town of Boliden. Going on to study at Piteå Conservatory, she subsequently sang with the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, Swedish Radio Choir and Nederlands Kamerkoor. At the time she studied and participated in master-classes with Dalton Baldwin (Framnäs Folkhögskola), Geoffrey Parsons (Edsbergs Musikskola), court singer MariAnne Häggander, Folke Abenius (Stockholm Opera), Paul Schilhawsky (Mozarteum, Salzburg) and Rudolf Jansen (Amsterdam).
Helena van Heel has a wide-ranging repertoire and has worked as a soloist with the Orchestra of the 18th Century, Nederlands Kamerorkest, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra, North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Residentie Orkest Den Haag and Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. Conductors she has worked with include Frans Brüggen, Eric Ericson, Reinbert de Leeuw, Péter Eötvös, Tõnu Kaljuste, Christoph Poppen, Wayne Marshall, Roberto Benzi, Johannes Leertouwer and Risto Joost.
Helena van Heel has also appeared with the Asko/Schönberg Ensemble, Rietveld Ensemble, Poglietti Consort, La Suave Melodia, In Stil Moderno, Barok Opera Amsterdam and Corelli Consort Tallinn. In addition, she has sung on radio and television and participated in various compact disc recordings. Festival appearances include the Donaueschinger Musiktage, the Gergiev Festival and the Holland Festival.
New highlights are Helena van Heel's own productions in which existing compositions are reworked and combined with pieces specially composed for her by Jeff Hamburg, Max Knigge, Willem Boogman and Thomas Jennefelt. Together with text writers, visual artists, composers and directors, she has created a platform which gives form to her love of music and her talent for storytelling. Since February 1993, she lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. |
