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CD REVIEW - OPUS KLASSIEK - APRIL 2026
LACUNES
"The pianist Babette Craens, also Belgian, is renowned for her poetic playing and her refined sense of tonal nuance. This, alongside other key qualities, makes her an ideal lieder pianist – a term which, unlike ‘lieder accompanist’, does justice to her fully-fledged role in the musical process. In her collaboration with Strijbos, she breathes and phrases, as it were, in unison with the vocal line, constantly anticipating breath, timing and enunciation. It is a collaboration underpinned by Craens’ equally subtle sense of rubato and flexibility. This gives rise to the essence of the lieder genre: an intimate chamber-musical dialogue between voice and piano."
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CONCERT REVIEW - CULTUURPAKT - APRIL 2026
LACUNES
"Babette Craens is the ideal collaborator; she serves with modesty and remains in the background, yet you can sense that she devotes her full attention to the score and, at times, guides and supports Fleur so that together they can achieve their intended goal. A duo out of a dream that transports you, the listener, to the intimacy or drama of each song. Together, they turn every song into a gem that lingers in your mind."
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FLEMISH PODCAST - LA CLASSICA - MARCH 2026
Lacunes
In this Flemish radio podcast, Fleur Strijbos and Babette Craens talk about Lacunes, their collaboration, and the support of SWUK Vlaanderen.
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FLEMISH RADIO BROADCAST - KLARA - MARCH 2026
Lacunes
In this Flemish radio broadcast, Fleur Strijbos and Babette Craens talk about Lacunes and their collaboration with Cara Van der Auwera.
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CONCERT REVIEW - KLASSIEK CENTRAAL - MAY 2025
DREAM IMAGES
"Babette and Herlinde (mezzo-soprano) show their best side: technically skilled, composed, playful, yet also dramatic and loving, with a deep passion for their repertoire."
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INTERVIEW - CULTUURPAKT - SEPTEMBER 2023
Fleur and Babette in conversation about how they work together, how they met and more.
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