Juliana COOK — Martijn VAN SAS Juliana COOK — Martijn VAN SAS

In the enchanting setting of Het Predikheren in Mechelen, Dutch-Canadian soprano Juliana COOK and Belgian pianist Martijn VAN SAS invite you on an intimate musical journey into the lives of four extraordinary operatic heroines.

From Mozart’s Vitellia (La clemenza di Tito) and Britten’s Queen Elizabeth (Gloriana) to Verdi’s Desdemona (Otello) and Strauss’s Arabella, four fascinating women take centre stage. Their stories, emotions and inner conflicts unfold through a carefully curated dialogue between operatic arias and art songs, revealing new dimensions of each character.

For Juliana, this concert is also a deeply personal exploration of music close to her heart:

“Being able to handpick the repertoire you perform is not always a given in this art form. This concert has given me the opportunity to showcase music that truly speaks to me. It’s like creating a puzzle: once all the pieces fall into place, the whole picture — and the journey — finally reveals itself.”

The result is more than a recital: a deeply personal musical narrative in which four remarkable women and the music that brings them to life come together.

Join us for an evening of opera, song and storytelling in one of Mechelen’s most beautiful locations.