Jacobs, René (1946– )

Belgian counter-tenor, conductor and editor. He studied at the University of Ghent and made his debut in Cavalli's Erismena in Amsterdam in 1974, under Alan Curtis; he has also appeared in ensembles directed by Gustav Leonhardt, Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Sigiswald Kuijken. He has directed his own ensemble, Collegium Vocale, from the 1970s, in operas by Cesti (L'orontea), Cavalli (Giasone), Charpentier (David et Jonathas) and Monteverdi (Poppea at Montpellier in 1989). In 1992 he conducted Graun's Cesare e Cleopatra at Versailles and Conti's Don Chisciotte at Innsbruck. He made his Salzburg Festival debut in 1993, with Monteverdi's Orfeo in his own edition. His recordings as a singer include Handel's Alessandro, Admeto, and Tamerlano; those as director include Giasone, and Handel's Flavio and Giulio Cesare. He is a leading figure in the revival of interest in early opera.