Micheline
Artist Bio
Micheline Van Hautem (vocals)
Micheline Van Hautem, born and raised in Ghent, stepped out into the vast world of music ten years ago, armed with only her voice and her guitar. Her first stop was New York, a melting pot of inspiring nationalities and cultures. To set her apart from other grand performers in the city, the Belgian born, Dutch/Flemish/French speaking muse sang songs primarily in French, in particular Jacques Brel and Edith Piaf. It wasn’t long before she found herself performing sold out concerts with her band Mich en Scene at The Florence Gould Hall in Manhattan.
As a result of the CD, Songs of Jacques Brel (2001), recorded with Mich en Scene in The Netherlands, she toured extensively in local theaters from New York to Amsterdam and was invited as a guest for radio and TV shows.
The Songs of Jacques Brel led her to Edinburgh –where she was honored with the prestigious Herald Angel Award- then on to Australia, where she and accordionist Frederik Caelen performed their CD Madame 2005, an ode to inspiring women, to packed audiences. During their second international tour, they received standing ovations, twice selling out the Sydney Opera House. In Europe, Madame was enthusiastically received, selling out the Concert Hall in Amsterdam.
Commissioned by Vredenburg in Utrecht, Micheline put together a program full of nostalgic songs from the 30ies and 40ies inspired by the music of the English series The Singing Detective, French chanson and American standards. Due to popular demand, Nostalgia has become an esteemed performance program.
Micheline’s travels throughout the world inspired her to begin writing original songs. Her intro’s and explanations of her French repertoire blossomed into fully-fledged songs like City of Diamonds and Someone Else. Micheline’s self-willed song programs have gained widespread recognition on the international podia.
Her most recent project, Chocolat, is a carefully chosen selection of songs that Micheline has written or passionately interpreted. In 2008, she will be performing Chocolat in theaters world wide, offering Belgian chocolates at the end of every concert!
www.michelinemusic.com
"She is, simply, fabulous."
-- The Times, London, 5 star review August 2004 --
Reviews and Quotes
‘Micheline Van Hautem is in a different league. She is, simply, fabulous.’
THE TIMES (August 24, 2004)
*****
‘Micheline Van Hautem's interpretation of the mesmerizing songs of Jacques Brel is pure dynamite. This is a perfect show. A real tour de force.’
THE SCOTSMAN (August 19, 2004)
“Van Hautem strips herself emotionally naked. It's an astonishing interpretive tour de force. You won't need to understand French to understand Van Hautem” (The Herald, Glasgow, August 2003)
“Van Hautem is tremendously powerful. Her voice, full of deft inflection, had me weeping. It’s a gorgeous show. “ (The Scotsman, August 2003)
“Brel's music, sung with magisterial control in both English and French, and though I often didn't understand the language, I was always mesmerized.” (Three Weeks, August 2003)
“Brel unplugged – subtle, intelligent, and completely captivating … Van Hautem’s voice is utterly delectable, one of cabaret’s world treasures.” (The Australian, June 2004)
“In its four years the Cabaret Festival has given us many fine singers, but the astonishing Micheline Van Hautem eclipses them all. A more daredevil performer rarely hits the stage -- she lets forth with breathtaking energy, showing what a complete performer she is. Language is no barrier. She communicates it with a livid sensual force that has the listener transfixed and transported to another world. Brilliant.” (Adelaide Review, July 2004)
“Van Hautem had temperatures rising. She strips cabaret down to the bare essentials with a voice and a shape that follow you around the room.” (Sunday Mail, Australia, June 2004)
Specialties
Special Attraction Popular Vocalist
Genre
world music international cabaret