Baritone/director Arnout Lems obtained a Master’s degree at the Royal Conservatory in 2002 with Sasja Hunnego, Diane Forlano and Christina Deutekom. That same year he graduated in Metz with Udo Reinemann. He is currently coached by Ronald Klekamp.
Arnout Lems has built up great expertise in both contemporary and Renaissance music. In the past he has performed with Cappella Pratensis and the Egidius Quartet. He now focuses on opera and contemporary music theater.
He has worked with, among others, the Silbersee ensemble (formerly VocaalLAB), Noord-Nederlands Orkest, Orkest De Volharding, Cobla La Principal d’Amsterdam, the Doelenensemble, Klangart Berlin, Les Percussions de Strasbourg, ICTUS Ensemble Brussels, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart and Nederlands Bach ensemble.
He sang in a series of contemporary and twentieth-century operas, including Curlew River by Benjamin Britten (Muziektheater Hollands Diep), Autland by Sergej Newski (Ruhrtriennale 2009), De Waterman by Hans Koolmees (title role) and with Holland Opera in Blauwbaard , Dido ile Aeneas and in the children’s opera Sugar Aunts (2014-2015). He also worked with Muziektheater Transparant in Antwerp, Festspielhaus Hellerau in Dresden and Hezarfen Ensemble Istanbul. He worked with well-known opera directors such as Pierre Audi and Willy Decker.
In India he sang the title role in Monteverdi’s l’Orfeo .
He made his directorial debut with Monteverdish , a confrontation of Monteverdi’s l’Incoronazione di Poppea with hip hop, through crossover dance theater ISH and VocaalLAB. This performance was very positively received in the press. His direction of Les Anges , a performance by VocaalLAB around John Cage and Erik Satie, received the same response.
Arnout was involved as musical director with DJ Mozart , the second collaboration between Silbersee and ISH.
