Belgian pianist Babette Craens (°1998) made her orchestral debut at the age of seventeen with Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto.
Recognized early as one of Belgium’s promising young pianists, Babette is a laureate of multiple national competitions including the Steinway Competition where she received second place. She is a sought-after addition to prestigious festivals including Arte Amanti Festival and PianoFest, and was selected for numerous exclusive masterclasses throughout the years. Babette has performed regularly at venues including deSingel, Flagey, De Bijloke, AMUZ and Miry Concertzaal.
Craens grew up in a musical family and began her piano studies with Heidi Hendrickx and Levente Kende. At seventeen, she was admitted to the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp, where she studied with Sergei Edelman and Eliane Rodrigues, with guidance from Jozef De Beenhouwer. She later continued her studies with De Beenhouwer and Nicolas Callot at Fontys Academy of the Arts in Tilburg.
Her studies with Eliane shaped an approach to the piano centered on sound, touch, phrasing and musical imagination. Critics have since praised Craens for her poetic imagination, refined touch, astonishing jeu perlé, and sensitivity to colour and nuance.
Contemporary music was present from an early age through her father Alain Craens, who is a professional composer, pianist and oboist. At the same time, her fascination with Impressionist art and music developed into a lasting affinity for French repertoire. Today, her repertoire ranges from the classical canon to contemporary music, with a particular interest in French Impressionism and Belgian repertoire.
Craens regularly collaborates with living composers and explores lesser-known works. Her interest in sound and colour also extends to historical instruments. Having grown up playing an 1868 Grotrian Steinweg, she continues to explore historical pianos alongside the modern concert grand.
This work has led to a long-term artistic partnership with Museum Vleeshuis in Antwerp, combining concerts and repertoire research. Recent projects include recordings of works by Paul Gilson on the museum’s historic Benoit–Pleyel.
While solo recital forms the heart of her artistic practice, Babette's collaborations stem from an openness to artistic dialogue and a genuine curiosity for new perspectives.
Whether in chambermusic, Lied, opera, orchestras or interdisciplinary projects, these encounters continue to enrich and deepen her artistic voice.
Therefore she is a sought-after collaborator for Muziektheater Transparant, Zonzo Compagnie, Vrienden van het Lied , diverse chambermusic groups among others.
“I have always admired Babette as someone who approaches music with exceptional intelligence and integrity, which has always resulted in interesting, deeply felt performances. Her piano playing is technically refined and always grounded in a deep stylistic awareness.”
“It is an interplay underpinned by Craens’ subtle sense of rubato and flexibility.
She breathes and phrases in perfect harmony with the vocal line, constantly anticipating the breathing, timing and enunciation of the text.”
The Liedgenre plays a central role in Babette's artistic work. She has been praised by leading pianists in this field including Malcolm Martineau, Roger Vignoles, Hans Eijsackers, Susan Manoff and Aäron Wajnberg. She is a sought-after Liedpianist and works with various singers for their Lied projects.
Since 2018, she has formed a duo with mezzo-soprano Herlinde Van de Straete, with whom she gave a debut recital in 2025 at Miry Concert Hall with the program Dream Images.
At the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp where they followed lessons with Aäron Wajnberg, Lucienne Van Deyck and Jozef De Beenhouwer, they graduated with the highest grade given ever in the history of Liedclass. For the 2024-2025 season Babette and Herlinde were selected for the Udo Reinemann Masterclasses and were invited back for the next season.
Primarily, they focus on contemporary and late 20th-century repertoire, where they search for ways to implement different interactions between them and the audience.
Since 2022, she has also collaborated closely with soprano Fleur Strijbos.
Their duo has been selected for several international competitions, is featured in the Vrienden van het Lied artist database, and has performed at venues including Lied Festival Zeist as well as recording for Klara radio - highlighting the duo's growing international recognition.
In 2026 they released their internationally acknowledged debut-album Lacunes, which has received numerous positive reviews and selections for national radio.
This duo is known for their dynamic interpretations, refined musicianship, and undeniable chemistry on stage. With music and poetry as their allies, they breathe new life into the classical Lied repertoire in a captivating way.