About Albert Combrink
Albert Combrink
Albert Combrink is a classically trained pianist, who left behind the confines of solo classical performance, to tread a wonderfully varied and multicultural existence. He has an excellent understanding of singers and singers’ repertoire. Albert Combrink has worked as vocal coach, accompanist, choral coach, and voice trainer for many years.
His interests include Jazz, having performed Gershwin and Porter shows, as well as the “Night Sessions” and “Blues in the Night” projects with Louise Howlett.
He is able to suggest suitable repertoire for performers, and he has built up a reputation for putting on interesting concerts, often around a theme.
These have included:
“Dangerous Liaisons” – a traversal of some of the Opera world’s more life-threatening encounters.
“Blues in the Night”, ”Moonlight Serenade” and “Cinema Serenade” – a multi-genre concept with Louise Howlett which include Oratorio, Opera, Musicals, Jazz and Pop, in one programme.
“Ladies and Ladders” – a programme built around the ladders ladies often use in their operatic intrigues. Lovers come and go by ladder and deception without which the operas would have been substantially shorter. In the process the ladies naturally get a ladder or two in their stockings…
“Chopin 200″ – a programme presenting the genius of Chopin in the 200th anniversary of his birth. The programme contains core works of Chopin’s output, but can be adjusted to be “lighter” or “heavier” depending on the audience. It was presented in various forms to audiences of all ages.
“Amores Amores” - a programme of Latin American love songs.
“Cleopatras” – A musical portrait of Cleopatra as she is presented at different points in history, by various composers.
“Paper Wings” – songs by American composers Larsen, Barber and Heggie and an American Song Cycle by South African Pieter Louise van Dijk.
“Boydressedup as girldressedup as boy” – a comic look at “trouser roles” in Opera.
“Dancing with Angels” – presenting the music of Astor Piazzolla.
Albert Combrink enjoys collaborating on these programmes with a variety of musicians, singers and instrumentalists.
