René Jacobs

René Jacobs (born October 30, 1946) is a Belgian (Flemish) musician. He came to fame as a countertenor but in recent years has become renowned as a conductor of Baroque and early Classical opera.

Jacobs was born in Ghent. As a child, he was a chorister at the Cathedral of Ghent. Later he studied classical philology at the University of Gent while continuing to sing in Brussels and in the Hague.

As a conductor, Jacobs regularly works with orchestras and ensembles such as the Concerto Köln, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Akademie Für Alte Musik Berlin, Nederlands Kamerkoor and Rias-Kammerchor for recordings and concert tours, performing sacred music and oratorios.

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Further Reading: René Jacobs

Weber's Der Freischütz from René Jacobs

29th Apr 2022by Katherine Cooper
The Belgian conductor's restoration of the original libretto's prologue lends a wonderful symmetry and coherence to Weber's supernatural Singspiel, whilst German actor Max Urlacher is properly spine-chilling in the expanded role of the demon Samiel.

Classical Recording of the Week
Beethoven's Leonore from René Jacobs and the Freiburger Barockorchester

6th Dec 2019by Katherine Cooper
The original 1805 version of Beethoven's only opera is a high-adrenaline experience in the hands of the Belgian conductor and his period-instrument band, with Marlis Petersen in the title-role and Maximilian Schmitt as her imprisoned husband.

Classical Recording of the Week

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Browse: René Jacobs

Further Reading: René Jacobs

Weber's Der Freischütz from René Jacobs

Beethoven's Leonore from René Jacobs and the Freiburger Barockorchester

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