Bart Rodyns (Organ – Harmonium - Harpsichord)

​

“…l’Harmonium prend toute sa juste place sous les doigts (et pieds) experts de Bart Rodyns…” (Concertonet, Théâtre des Champs Elysées @ Paris)

​

“…The only non-brass player was organist Bart Rodyns ,who did crucial and subtle work in ensemble capacities and as a poised soloist in several delights…”  (American tour, Early Music @ Pittsburgh)

​

 "…À L'Harmonium, l’organiste Bart Rodyns offre une présence souple et donne de la brillance à chacun de ses passages…” (Olyrix, Théâtre des Champs Elysées @ Paris)

​

“…Although its grand conclusion, featuring Bart Rodyns’s gutsy organ-playing, sets the seal on some splendid music-making…” (Review Gramophone @ UK)

​

“…Et on n’oubliera pas la juste virtuosité du soutien instrumental, dominé par le clavecin de Bart Rodyns, autre nom incontournable du programme…” (Review @ Aix-en-Provence, France)

​

At a young age, Bart Rodyns received several awards, including Pro Musica, the Jos Van Looy Prize, the Victor Van Hemel Prize, the Medal of the City of Lier, and he was a laureate of the Ottoboni competition. He studied organ with D. Van Handenhoven and continued his education at the conservatories of Antwerp and Maastricht with D. de Rooij, H. Leenders, J. Verdin, and M. Verheggen. He graduated with highest distinction, earning a Master of Music degree.

 

Bart has won numerous national and international competitions in Birmingham (UK), Leiden (NL), Brussels, Halle, and Kortrijk. He has made recordings for Belgian, German, Dutch, French, Danish, Swiss, Slovenian, and Prague radio stations, and was nominated for the Radio Klara Music Awards. In 2014, he received a “Golden Label.” His concert career has taken him to most European countries and the United States. He was also awarded the Cultural Prize of the City of Lier for his outstanding contributions to culture.

 

Bart Rodyns is the artistic director and keyboard player of the Euterpe Baroque Consort (www.eubc.be). This renowned ensemble performs baroque music on historical instruments. In 2015, their debut CD featuring organ concertos by G.F. Handel and M. Corrette was released, followed shortly by a CD of previously unpublished music by chapel masters from Lier (in collaboration with the Festival of Flanders, Label Phaedra).

 

Together with Hendrickje van Kerckhove, Eliot Lawson, and Lode Leire, Bart revived the historically flexible ensemble ‘The Party’ (1860), featuring the very original pressure-wind harmonium. Highlights of this ensemble include two live broadcast concerts from the Concertgebouw Bruges and a recording for the label ZeD Classics.

 

With pianist Nicolas Callot, he forms a harmonium–piano duo with which he recorded the complete works of César Franck (Enigma Records). This was followed by a digital release, Clara’s Heart (Warner Classics in collaboration with Radio Klara), featuring music by Clara and Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Most recently, the album BACH-SESSIONS has been released.

 

He is a highly sought-after guest musician for concerts and recordings with ensembles and orchestras such as Les Muffatti, Oltremontano, Utopia, BachPlus, InAlto, Brussels Philharmonic, La Monnaie Opera, Il Gardellino, the Flemish Radio Choir, Osiris Brass, Symphony Orchestra Flanders, and the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra.

 

Bart strives to perform each musical style on historical instruments whenever possible and is a “keyboard player” in the broadest sense of the word. To this end, he frequently makes use of his own collection of 21 (historical) keyboard instruments, including harpsichords, harmoniums, chamber organs, celestas, and more. His repertoire spans from Renaissance to contemporary music, including the complete organ works of F. and L. Couperin, J. Pachelbel, C.P.E. Bach, J. Brahms, and F. Liszt, as well as all organ concertos by G.F. Handel. He has frequently appeared as a soloist with renowned orchestras, performing works by composers such as Handel, Brahms, Haydn, Salieri, Mozart, Bach, Corrette, and Poulenc.

 

Since September 2019, Bart Rodyns has been appointed Professor and Head of Organ, Harpsichord, and Harmonium at the Fontys Academy of Music in Tilburg. In June 2020, he was appointed titular organist of the monumental St. Paul’s Church in Antwerp, where he plays the unique historical organ built by Van Haeghen (1654), Forceville (1730), and Delhaye (1824), likely the most important historical instrument in the Southern Netherlands. Since November 2021, he has also taken on the challenging role of music director there.

More info: www.bartrodyns.be

​

“…For me, the highlight of this whole Klara day was the high-quality performance of the Euterpe baroque ensemble, Director Bart Rodyns. They knew how to combine great professional skills with a deliberate and well-chosen fragility…” (Knack @ BOZAR)

​

“…On ne manquera pas de saluer les très belles prestations de BART RODYNS qui tint très bien la partie d' Harmonium”... (CrescendoMagazine, Théâtre des Champs Elysées @ Paris)

​

“…The Consort is an example for all baroque ensembles. Euterpe is not only striving for perfection, its members listen carefully to each other and play accordingly. The performance was full of dynamics and good taste. Euterpe’s playing was truly appealing with nothing being left to chance: all ornaments were right, the phrasing was precise and the agogic perfect. In other words, this concert was a pure pleasure for the ear and a delightful moment of warmth and relaxation…” (PZC @ Muziekpodium Zeeland)

​

“…Still there was a link between the Gregorian and Kurdish sound universes, in their shared purity, sense of infinity, power to stir and respectfulness. The latter term also applied to the deeply focused performance of the Euterpe Baroque Consort and Capella Pratensis and director Bart Rodyns…” (Eindhovens Dagblad @ Oirschot)

​

“…L’Harmonium de Bart Rodyns, par ses accents solennels, confère à l’œuvre l’exact soupçon de hiératisme qui lui est nécessaire, et dialogue habilement et de façon toujours complice”... (Bachtrack, Théâtre des Champs Elysées @ Paris)

​

​

“…During the interludes, I actually experienced a gentle wink and friendly smile to the soul. The applause was never-ending, which put a satisfied smile on all performers’ faces. It was a well-deserved ovation, as I felt I had witnessed, on that Sunday, April 1st, something ‘Flemish of incredible beauty’.” (Nieuwsblad @ Antwerp)

 

Bart Rodyns - My Vision on teaching.

At Fontys AMPA the fantastic MOM degree program is challenging, while retaining flexibility in order to address each student’s needs on an individual basis.

In my instrumental lessons : All students should learn to bring ‘early-baroque-romantic-modern-new’ classical sheet music back to life : with the deepest respect for the craftsmanship of its composer combined with their own freedom, sound, heart and soul. This is why I am a keyboard player in the broadest sense of the word, I cover the complete history of music in my repertoire: from Renaissance up to contemporary music… With Organ, Harpsichord and Harmonium. That’s why I like teaching at AMPA as it focuses on the complete music practice of today.

The first connection between a new piece (old or new) , its composer and student, is the ‘right instrument’. I believe that each piece deserves to be executed on the right type of instrument for which it was originally written. All AMPA organ students have access not only to in-house instruments, but also to a number of beautiful instruments within the city of Tilburg, thereby allowing them to practice all types of repertoire on the appropriate instruments.

My students will also have numerous of chances to gain an introduction to basso continuo, or figured bass, and develop their skills in this field as it is one of my specialties on Harpsichord as well as Organ. Lessons in basso continuo bring many new perspective and skill to the art of accompanying, enhancing students’ improvisational and keyboard harmony capabilities while opening them up to a deeper awareness of (early) music practice.

Since 2005 I regularly appeared professionally as a harmoniumist with leading choirs, orchestras and ensembles including appearances at Théâtre des Champs Elysées (Paris) in repertoire ranging from Rossini, Franck to Karg-Elert and Daan Manneke… All students are invited to master this extremely expressive keyboard instrument with me. It demands the utmost in coordination and gives you a completely different view of dynamics. Therefore, it is ideal as an addition to another keyboard instrument or as a main instrument.

In addition, I am open to the specialization of others because I also want and can gain new insights, which is why I like to work with other (AMPA) colleagues. In this way, students get an even broader view!

So, with all my experience I want to train you to become a broad musician who is constantly looking for innovation!