Suspirium Ensemble – ‘Where I Belong!’

In their new programme, the Suspirium Ensemble delves into the world of Dutch-language Baroque music. Folk music that was sung across national and linguistic boundaries and can be regarded as the pop music of its time. Season OPENING CONCERT!

Programme notes

In ‘Waar ik hoor’, the Suspirium Ensemble delves into the world of Dutch-language Baroque music. Together, they explore what it meant to feel at home in the 17th century, with music that drifted into the Netherlands from all corners of the world and is now being playfully dusted off and given a new lease of life.

This is folk music that was sung across national and linguistic boundaries and can be regarded as the pop music of its time. Suspirium has delved into the archives and libraries and collected all sorts of material that has never been performed before! From love ballads to drinking songs and much more – and everyone can understand it.

The programme includes songs by Petersen, de Konink and Sweerts, chants from *De Verliefde Rykaart*, the well-known *Doen Daphne d’Overschoone Maegt* and various well-known folk melodies.

The musicians

Iris Bouman
The Dutch mezzo-soprano Iris Bouman is a versatile singer who is equally at home performing as a soloist or as part of an ensemble. She studied singing in Utrecht, Berlin and Salzburg and graduated cum laude with a Master’s degree in Historical Voice from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Iris is a much sought-after performer of oratorios and early Baroque repertoire and sings with, amongst others, the Netherlands Bach Society and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir.
As founder of the Suspirium Ensemble, she is committed to bringing early music to life in a contemporary and accessible way for a wide audience.

Suspirium Ensemble
The Suspirium Ensemble was founded in 2021 by mezzo-soprano Iris Bouman and cellist Gala Lozynska. The ensemble specialises in early Baroque music and is renowned for its colourful and expressive performances. With a rich continuo line-up comprising theorbo, Baroque guitar, cello, viola da gamba and harpsichord, a layered soundscape is created in which vocals and instruments constantly enhance one another.

The repertoire ranges from French airs de cour to Italian Baroque songs and Latin American rhythms. Through this, the ensemble demonstrates just how versatile, lively and boundary-breaking seventeenth-century music can be.

The Suspirium Ensemble consists of:
Iris Bouman – vocals
MengHan Wu – Baroque violin
Gala Lozynska – Baroque cello
Jeremy Bass – Baroque guitar
Punto Bawono – theorbo

Artist in Residence

Mezzo-soprano Iris Bouman is Artist in Residence 2026 at Goede Rede Concerten. Throughout the year, we will be working together on a varied programme, in which Iris will explore the possibilities of our stage, often in surprising musical combinations. More info.