Press
Il Grand’ Inquisitor
“Wilfried Van den Brande delivers a well-considered and consistent ‘Winterreise‘. As with all good performances, ‘Gute Nacht‘ is the key to the entire cycle: we are treated to an introspective opening song with a tender conclusion …”
“This ‘Wanderer’ doesn’t seem to hold a grudge against anyone; even in ‘Die Wetterfahne’ he never really becomes resentful. Only at the end of ‘Gefrorne Tränen’ does his voice rise briefly, but he seems to be angry mainly with himself. He carries that inner anger into ‘Erstarrung’, where he doesn’t shy away from a few harsh notes. But it doesn’t stop there. He makes effective use of his majestic bass to express irony in ‘Irrlicht’.”
“Following a ‘Prometheus’ moment in ‘Mut!’ (which is particularly striking when performed by a low voice), he transcends himself in ‘Der Leiermann’, providing a poignant conclusion to this ‘Winterreise’.”
Il Grand’ Inquisitor
“With ‘Grenzen der Menschheit‘, it immediately became clear that he favours his low, resonant notes, given that he consistently opts for the lower registers.”
“His rendition of this monumental song is highly expressive, including, among other things, ‘Was unterscheidet Götter von Menschen’, which already foreshadowed ‘Prometheus’, with which the recital would conclude.”
“A classic like ‘Die Forelle’ showcased Van den Brandes’ narrative skills. But it was his ‘Prometheus’ that I was really looking forward to; it turned out to be a work that defied the gods, exuding such contempt that I have rarely encountered the like.”
Image Hifi
“[…] this is a wonderful resonant voice, with great agility. The voice carries in outstanding manner. He sings with great expressive means and commitment. You can hear how well he feels in between Auber and Massenet. The two Verdi extra’s come across wonderfully. Now that’s his true idiom.”
2005/4
Scherzo
“Van den Brande manifests himself as an excellent basse chantante with a broad and warm voice… an excellent emission, a varied phonetic ability, well taken care of. In every track there’s a clear respect for the composition, clear diction, beautiful melodic lines”
2006/1
De Tijd
“On his recent cd, Wilfried Van den Brande stresses his distinctive features as a purebred basse chantante. It is quite clear that he possesses a well cultivated voice, that has ample richness in the lower register but a radiant top and agility in the higher regions as well. He excellently immerses himself in the different roles and makes music with plenty of nuance and shade.”
2004/10/06
Ramifications
“For his debut solo album, Wilfried Van den Brande delved into the archives of the period, unearthing, alongside better-known tunes, forgotten scores which he passionately breathes new life into […] In his warm voice, with its rich and touching vibrato, devoid of artifice, there resonates an obvious joy in singing, vibrant with emotion […] which takes up the gauntlet in a very human way, sober and intense in Philippe II.”
2004/12/13
Klassiek centraal: goUDEN label
“The passion with which Wilfried Van den Brande has devoted himself to this American composer has resulted in a tribute which its creators rightly hope will contribute to greater recognition and well-deserved appreciation of Cole Porter, whose artistic contribution to 20th-century American music is invaluable.”
“His voice forces you to pay attention to the texts, of which you notice that their not at all superficial, or passe-partout, but show – in their gaiety, sadness, feeling of being in love, passion or pain – a deeper layer that truly affects one.”
2010/11/22
Musicweb International
“Wilfried Van den Brande brings enthusiasm, dedication and scholarship to this project such that he convinced the Cole Porter Trustees in New York and sang Porter at Carnegie Hall. He sings in a convincing American vernacular with very good pronunciation.”
“Van den Brande has an urbane debonair manner, delivering the songs with an engaging insouciance – one might almost imagine you are hearing Porter himself – a voice with a smile in it.”
“[…] a welcome release and a welcome celebration of a great 20th century compositional talent by 21st century artists.“
De Standaard
“In a slightly smaller but equally packed hall next door, black-and-white photographs of a young man in a stately suit are projected. ‘If there is one composer who fits Iedereen Klassiek, it is George Gershwin,’ says bass-baritone Wilfried Van den Brande. ‘A man who effortlessly combines two worlds: that of Broadway and that of Carnegie Hall. That is also what is happening here today: beautiful music with a very rich tradition is being presented to a very wide audience.’ Together with pianist Bart Van Caenegem, he presents a programme in which Gershwin songs (or rather, hits) are interspersed with entertaining anecdotes from the man’s life. ‘Nice, isn’t it?’, asks the man in the seat next to me afterwards. I agree with a nod, and rightly so.”
– Bram Van Haelter, De Standaard (2023)
“Wilfried Van den Brande was an impressive Don Giovanni.”
– Veronique Rubens, De Standaard
“Are you drawn to that warm bass voice that can handle the higher notes? Then he is your singer […] A brilliant singer, full of warmth and acting talent, and consequently deeply attuned to the text and score.”
– Ludwig Van Mechelen, denbrabo
“His gargantuan love for singing, his thirst for music and opera […] stirs his energy and multiplies his talent. The singer is impressive, the man touching, the artist just and lucid.”
– Noël Godts, Ramifications
