ABOUT
​'Je ne t'aime pas' presents a captivating selection of songs that explore the complex relationship between love, loss, and female resilience. Soprano Tineke Van Ingelgem and pianist Aaron Wajnberg bring this exploration to life through the works of three remarkable contemporaries: Kurt Weill, Francis Poulenc and Benjamin Britten. These composers, all active in the first half of the 20th century, were part of a period of great musical innovation and shared particularly strong bonds with their librettists.
Kurt Weill's collaboration with Bertolt Brecht revolutionized music theater in the 1920s and 1930s. Their partnership, characterized by Brecht's sharp social criticism and Weill's innovative musical language, created iconic works such as Die Dreigroschenoper, from which Barbarasong is an excerpt. ​Weill's versatility as a composer is evident in this song selection, including both his German and French repertoire. A notable piece is Es regnet, with lyrics Weill himself wrote based on an idea by author Jean Cocteau, creating an interesting link to Poulenc.
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Francis Poulenc, whose miniature one-woman opera La dame de Monte-Carlo is featured in this recording, worked closely with Jean Cocteau. Their artistic vision, rooted in the French avant-garde, brought a unique sensibility to the art of song.
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Benjamin Britten's Cabaret Songs, written during his intense friendship with poet W. H. Auden, blur the lines between classical music and cabaret, demonstrating Britten's ability to combine depth and humor.
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A common thread throughout the Je ne t’aime pas song selection is the portrayal of women as complex, resilient figures facing the challenges of love and life. From Weill's Nannas Lied to Britten's Tell me the truth about love, these works offer a nuanced picture of female experiences and emotions.
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The choice to record songs that balance on the edge between classical art song and cabaret was not taken lightly by the exquisite duo of Tineke Van Ingelgem and Aaron Wajnberg. Their collaboration ensures a unique interpretation of these works. Van Ingelgem demonstrates great sensitivity to the text, both in content and pronunciation. With her profound approach to the characters and unparalleled dedication, Van Ingelgem adds an extra dimension to these heartwrenching songs. Wajnberg, renowned for his subtlety and musicality, elevates the singer's performance through his accompaniment. Together, Van Ingelgem and Wajnberg create an innovative, carefully crafted interpretation that does justice to every detail of these emotionally charged works.
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Tineke VAN INGElgem
Tineke Van Ingelgem is a Belgian soprano with an unforgettable stage presence. Her acting skills, combined with her bright and powerful voice, make her ideal for dramatic roles such as Rusalka, Marschallin/Der Rosenkavalier and Chrysothemis/Elektra. She has performed in opera houses across Europe, from La Monnaie in Brussels to La Scala in Milan.
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Tineke’s main repertoire includes major roles in German and Eastern European opera. She has performed as Marschallin/Der Rosenkavalier (Opéra Grand Avignon, Luzerner Theater, Theater Trier), Rusalka (Opera Ballet Vlaanderen), Chrysothemis/Elektra (Teatro Politeama di Palermo), Jenny/Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny (Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen), Ortlinde/Die Walküre (La Monnaie) and Second Niece/Peter Grimes (Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Teatro alla Scala).
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Her vocal timbre also suits the French-Italian repertoire. After roles such as La Ciesca/Gianni Schicchi (La Monnaie, Teatro Regio Torino, Zomeropera Alden Biesen), La Maestra delle Novizie & Suora Infirmiera/Suor Angelica (La Monnaie, Teatro Regio Torino), Alice Ford/Falstaff (Opéra Royal de Wallonie - concert version) and La Dame de Monte-Carlo (Teatro Regio di Parma), Cherubini's Médée became her signature role. Her emotional performances at the Opéra de Dijon and Opéra de Rouen received critical acclaim, leading to an invitation to cover Médée at the Staatsoper Berlin, conducted by Daniel Barenboim.
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In addition to these dramatic roles, Tineke’s comedic talent has shone in operetta, with productions such as Gräfin Mariza (Landestheater Linz), Hanna/Die lustige Witwe (Zomeropera Alden Biesen - concert version) and Diane/Orphée aux enfers (Opéra Royal de Wallonie).
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Tineke holds a master’s degree in Germanic Languages and a master in singing from the Lemmens Institute in Leuven. She is the founder and artistic director of Opera Caramba!, an opera company for children, and is a radio host on Belgian national classical radio, Klara.
AARON WAJNBERG
Aaron Wajnberg is a Belgian-born pianist celebrated for his extraordinary musical intelligence and poetic sensibility. Since his Carnegie Hall debut in 2011, he has established himself as one of the most sought-after accompanists and chamber musicians of his generation.
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Wajnberg has performed at world-renowned venues including the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Teatro Municipal Rio de Janeiro, Bayerische Staatsoper München, and the Dutch National Opera. His impressive career includes multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall, including a notable return in 2023 for Renée Fleming's SongStudio and a 2025 performance accompanying mezzo-soprano Shannon Keegan in Schubert's Schwanengesang.
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As an accompanist, he has collaborated with an impressive roster of international singers, including Rolando Villazón, Sir Bryn Terfel, Roberto Alagna, Ian Bostridge and Christoph Prégardien. His chamber music performances have featured collaborations with artists like Michael Barenboim, Artiom Shishkov, and ensembles such as the Quatuor Enesco and Quatuor Danel.
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Educated at the Royal Conservatoires of Antwerp and Ghent, Wajnberg studied under distinguished pianists including Levente Kende, Leonid Margarius and Victor Makarov. He specialized in Lied performance with renowned coaches like Lucienne Van Deyck and Helmut Deutsch.
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Wajnberg is deeply committed to contemporary music, having premiered works by composers Antoni Besses, Robert Groslot and Annelies Van Parys. He performed the Belgian premiere of Iain Bell's songs with Rolando Villazón at BOZAR in Brussels.
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Currently, Wajnberg serves as a professor of Lied and assistant professor of piano at the Royal Antwerp Conservatoire. Since 2019, he has been the artistic director of Antwerp LiedFest, where he continues to nurture young musical talent through frequent masterclasses and workshops in New York, Paris, and Frankfurt.