AYRTON DESIMPELAERE Chef d'orchestre/pianiste
AYRTON DESIMPELAERE Conductor/Pianist
24.03.2023 - Primorski dnevnik - Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev/Zanella) - Teatro Verdi Trieste
Electric energy of the orchestra
A whole and very beautiful chapter belongs to the Trieste orchestra, which Belgian conductor Ayrton Desimpelaere has brought to a musicality combining high technicality and electric energy: the brass instruments have exploited their potential without restraint, this time in the right sense of the word, because the strength of the score sometimes requires an almost wild, almost unrestrained interpretation that leads to moments of overwhelming emotion. At the same time, the conductor and the orchestra have created magnificent scenes, from the mandolins accompanying the trumpets to the countless details that have been carefully designed musically and confirmed the excellent level of the soloists in all sections. The large and enchanting romantic phrases have also bathed the whole in a warm and pleasant atmosphere. In short, nothing to do with routine performances in which the orchestra plays a completely subordinate role.
Enthusiastic applause and cheers resounded for a long time on the stage of Trieste, loudly applauding the two protagonists, as well as the choreographer and conductor, who shared the success with the orchestra.
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18.04.2022 - Le Soir - Sinfonia Eroïca (Beethoven/De Mey) - Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège/Astragales
Thirty-two years after its creation, Michèle Anne De Mey presents a new version of her masterpiece, where live music adds to the general excitement.
On the eve of the premiere, Michèle Anne De Mey wondered if the audience would be present for the re-creation of Sinfonia Eroica at the Opera Royal de Wallonie. The answer was clear during the two unique evenings scheduled on Easter weekend: an almost full house and thunderous applause at the end of the performance. The risky bet paid off handsomely.
Because that's the main novelty of this 2022 version: for the first time, Beethoven's Heroic Symphony is performed live under the baton of Ayrton Desimpelaere...
When the action begins, the energy and enthusiasm that burst forth during the original 1990 production are instantly rediscovered. But, in addition, there is the power and precision of the "live" orchestra. On stage, the grand ensemble movements, games, challenges, races, and slides along the wire that spans the entire space resurface as if by magic. There is nothing dated about it. On the contrary, the piece seems younger than ever, as the nine performers have fully embraced it. This is evident in certain solos, duets, and trios, which are imbued with their individual personalities. It is also reflected in the dynamic of the show, boosted by the orchestra.
While recordings are used for some musical moments (solo piano, Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady," fanfare, etc.), the breath of the "live" music adds extra vitality and enjoyment to the whole. The team also plays with this element. One dancer commands, "Maestro! The contra dance!" Another apologizes to the musicians while cutting off the recorded tape that interrupted their performance. A third rushes to the conductor, who perfectly plays along, to stop the orchestra, as one of the dancers is still engaged in other activities.
And one thinks that this 2022 Sinfonia Eroica could embark on a new extensive tour.
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21.03.2022 - Sigledal - Faust - SNG Opera in ballet Ljubljana
"All the ensembles, including the highly prepared orchestra, were conducted and brought together into a homogeneous and coherent whole by the young Belgian conductor Ayrton Desimpelaere, who is remarkably versatile and already internationally renowned. The choir members, prepared by Zeljka Ulcnik Remic, deserve special praise for their impressive sound and their ability to move on stage, which greatly contributed to making this performance a magnificent portrayal of human destiny."
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21.03.2022 - Opera Online - Faust - SNG Opera in ballet Ljubljana
"Delikat, mit vielen, sensiblen Zwischentönen und viel Pianokultur aber auch packender Dramatik hört man das Orchester der Laibacher Oper unter dem Dirigenten Ayrton Desimpelaere."
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27.09.2019 - Arts et lettres - Madama Butterfly - Opéra Royal de Wallonie
"Directing this tear moving opera in Liège Royal Opera , it is fabulous Speranza Scappucci, who has been its musical director since 2017. But on September 22nd, she kindly lent her passionate baton to young Belgian Ayrton Desimpelaere, the talented assistant conductor at the Royal Opera of Wallonia-Liège. He is also a young professor at the IMEP and a fine musicologist. While his impressive career started about 15 years ago, and he has just been awarded the 2019 Walloon Merit Medal.
Given the golden opportunity to display his flourishing talent in Puccini’s fantastic opera, Ayrton Desimpelaere directed a particularly emotional Madama Butterfly. He demonstrated his perfect knowledge of th masterwokk, igniting a wide range of feelings among the cast and the audience. All themes were clearly highlighted with dense expressiveness. One could easily recognize the various moods, either identical or developed with delicate changes of orchestration according to the careful dramatic advance. His lyrical dedication outlined each character very accurately. The presence of Pinkerton, who broadly represents the colonialism of the Western world and the superiority of dominant white males, came up with ironic strains of the American hymn and some jazzy zest. It offered a vivid contrast with the numerous oriental elements seasoned in Puccini’s score that embody the Japanese soul."
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18.03.2019 - Seen and Heard International - Aïda - Opéra Royal de Wallonie
Baptism by Fire for Conductor Ayrton Desimpelaere in Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège’s Aida
"One week you are savoring the artistry of Nello Santi in Zurich in the twilight of his career, and the next you’re cheering on a young conductor who stepped in at the last minute and triumphed. Speranza Scappucci, the Musical Director of the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège, was scheduled to conduct this performance of Aida, but he withdrew at the last minute due to health reasons. Ayrton Desimpelaere, less than a third the age of Santi, stepped in and rose to the occasion.
The young Belgian is the company’s assistant conductor, but it was still a baptism by fire as it was his first time conducting the opera. Some passages were perhaps slower than usual, but that made for an especially graceful Temple Scene, enhanced by Michèle Anne De Mey’s subtle choreography and the fine singing of the men in the chorus. The Triumphal March was well-paced, and in Act III when the cast jelled, there was electricity in the air. The ovation that Desimpelaere received when he took his bow was richly deserved."
This, however, was Desimpelaere’s night. Many were in his corner, especially the chorus and orchestra, those who know him best. This critic was too.cast jelled, there was electricity in the air. The ovation that Desimpelaere received when he took his bow was richly deserved."
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18.03.2019 - Olyrix - Don Quichotte - Opéra Royal de Wallonie
"Le jeune chef Ayrton Desimpelaere dirige l’orchestre de l’IMEP (Institut supérieur de musique et de pédagogie de Namur) et les interventions de la salle d’un geste sûr et esthétique, encourageant les enfants dans leur découverte artistique. La réduction de l’effectif met en valeur la gravité des contrebasses et la mélancolie des altos et violoncelles, le chant gracieux des ûtes et hautbois, ainsi que les airs festifs des cuivres."
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05.11.2018 - Toutelaculture.com - Il Matrimonio segreto - Opéra Royal de Wallonie
"Dans la fosse, Ayrton Desimpelaere, assistant de Speranza Scappucci qui dirige, à vingt-huit ans, sa première grande production lyrique sur une scène d’envergure, impulse une vitalité communicative relayée par le clavecin volubile de Hilary Caine, prompt aux anachronismes hilarants dans ses récitatifs émaillés de la Marche d’Aïdaou de la Chevauchée des Walkyries. Au-delà du trac perceptible de la baguette et de redondances zygomatiques, on ne pourra que saluer l’initiative liégeoise de faire revivre une partition devenue plus rare à l’affiche ces dernières décennies."
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27.10.2018 - Opera-Online - Il Matrimonio segreto - Opéra Royal de Wallonie
"En ce qui concerne la partie musicale, c’est un plaisir garanti que de retrouver la musique de Cimarosa, pétillante, mousseuse, d’un rythme échevelé, moderne dans sa conception, avec ses finales impressionnants. Il faut beaucoup de talent, et une précision sans faille, pour jouer cet opéra, des qualités que le tout jeune chef belge Ayrton Desimpelaere (28 ans !), assistant musical de Speranza Scappucci ici-même, et le formidable Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège ont à revendre ! Il faut également citer le clavecin de Hilary Caine, aussi facétieux qu’anachronique, puisqu’il se permet de citer (dans certains récitatifs) des passages d’œuvres célèbres telles les Trompettes d’Aïda ou la Chevauchée des Walkyries !"
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________27.10.2018 - Arts et lettres - Il Matrimonio segreto - Opéra Royal de Wallonie
"Mais revenons à ce jeune chef que les médias encensent à chaque occasion, depuis qu’il a pris son envol à Moscou lors de la demi-finale piano du « Concours international Tchaikovsky » en 2015 où il a dirigé les « Solistes de Moscou ». Nous avons eu le plaisir de le voir diriger avec brio l’opéra participatif Jeune Public « la flûte Enchantée » de Mozart en début d’année, et une création : « Folon » de Nicolas Campogrande , en mars dernier. Lors de cette première de l’opéra « Il matrimonio segreto », Ayrton de Simpelaere a pleinement réussi le défi qu’on lui offrait, faisant preuve d’une grande maîtrise de la balance, d’une concentration et d’une précision extraordinaires dans son interprétation musicale. ... Une habitude ancrée dans l’exigence personnelle. Dès l’ouverture, les dynamiques se créent comme par enchantement, le velouté des vents raconte les effusions de joie, la finesse des cordes est omniprésente, les accents, les legatos, s’enchaînent avec grâce. Le grain de la musique est lisse et lumineux. Une ouverture avec trois mesures de Flûte enchantée et le reste est bonheur. Flying colours aussi pour la direction des solistes dont la diction est un véritable délice. La palette de ses couleurs orchestrales aligne chaque nouveau climat sur les couleurs et les voix rutilantes des personnages."
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25.10.2018 - Crescendo Magazine - Il Matrimonio segreto - Opéra Royal de Wallonie
"Ayrton Desimpelaere a décidé de diriger l’œuvre de manière classique (et non baroque comme la plupart des enregistrements disponibles), mélangé à un style préromantique. Cette interprétation éclectique n’est pas anodine : elle nous rappelle les couleurs des Noces de Mozart ainsi que du Bel Canto de Rossini, comme le définissent si bien les musicologues. L’orchestre a parfaitement suivi le chef du début à la fin de l’œuvre, bien qu’il ait mis du temps à dévoiler tout son potentiel dans l’ouverture."
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23.10.2018 - Le Soir - Il Matrimonio segreto - Opéra Royal de Wallonie