Dianne van Giersbergen (born 3 June 1985) is a Dutch

spinto soprano A spinto soprano (also lirico-spinto, spinto lyric soprano, or pushed lyric) is a type of operatic soprano voice that has the limpidity and easy high notes of a lyric soprano, yet can be "pushed" on to achieve dramatic climaxes without strain. Thi ...

singer. She is the founder and frontwoman of the

progressive metal Progressive metal (sometimes shortened to prog metal) is a broad :Fusion music genres, fusion music genre melding heavy metal music, heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified electric guitar, guitar-driven s ...

band

Ex Libris Ex Libris may refer to: *An Ex Libris (bookplate), a label affixed to a book to indicate ownership *Ex Libris (band), a Dutch metal band *Ex Libris (bookshop), a Swiss retail company * "Ex Libris" (''Charmed''), a 2000 episode of the television ser ...

,Erwin Van Dijk, Sept. 2012, Ex Libris
Interview : Dianne van Giersbergen – Ex Libris (2010)
Accessed 4 July 2014, "...This interview is with Dianne van Giersbergen, the singer of Ex Libris...." and she was the vocalist of German

symphonic metal Symphonic metal is a cross-generic style designation for the symphonic subsets of heavy metal music subgenres. It is used to denote any metal band that makes use of symphonic or orchestral elements. The style features the heavy drums and guitar ...

band

Xandria Xandria is a German symphonic metal band founded by Marco Heubaum in 1994. Originally a project, Heubaum later restarted the project as a band in 1999, and has gone through various lineup changes. The German vocalist Lisa Middelhauve joined fo ...

from 2013 to 2017.2014-07-01, Festival Info, music review
REVIEW : HAL2A – DICK `S LAST DAYS
Retrieved 4 July 2014, "...Dutch soprano Dianne van Giersbergen ... known by the German symphonic metal band Xandria. Her singing is fine...." She is not related to Dutch singer

Anneke van Giersbergen Anna Maria "Anneke" van Giersbergen (born 8 March 1973) is a Dutch singer, songwriter and guitarist who became known worldwide as the lead singer for the rock band The Gathering between 1994 and 2007. She also has a solo career. The project wa ...

Early life and education

Dianne van Giersbergen received her first singing lessons as a birthday present from her parents at the age of four. In the following years, she was taught by several professors and sang in several choirs. In 2005, she began studying classical music at the ArtEZ School of Music where she focused on classical singing and musical theater. In 2009, she received her degree with honors. Meanwhile, she expanded her vocal technique and began to combine her classical training with heavy metal music. She also worked on the theory of composition, wrote poetry and organized classical music concerts.

Career

Ex Libris (2004–present)

After graduating with a Bachelor and master's degree from the ArtEZ school and perfecting the combination of classical techniques with progressive metal music, Dianne van Giersbergen formed

along with drummer Joost van de Pas. Their debut album "Amygdala" was released in 2009. The album was well received by critics and fans, and the band started to act as support for shows of other Dutch symphonic metal bands such as

Epica Epica or EPICA may refer to: * Epica (band), a Dutch symphonic metal band * ''Epica'' (Kamelot album), 2003 * ''Epica'' (Audiomachine album), 2012 * The European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) * The Epica Awards (International Adver ...

Delain Delain is a Dutch symphonic metal band formed in 2002 by former Within Temptation keyboardist Martijn Westerholt, intending for the band to be solely a project. Singer Charlotte Wessels was invited to join in 2005. The name of the band comes fr ...

Stream of Passion Stream of Passion is a Dutch progressive metal band with symphonic and gothic influences founded by guitarist and composer Arjen Anthony Lucassen and Mexican singer, violinist, and lyricist Marcela Bovio. They have released four studio albums. ...

ReVamp Revamp may refer to: Changes *Revamp, informal term for maintenance, repair, and operations *Revamp, informal term for editing of natural-language text * Revamp (gaming), informal term for boost or renovation of a game's UI, system stats, items, ...

. They also played shows abroad in countries such as Germany, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom, where the band started to receive attention. Their second album "

Medea In Greek mythology, Medea (; grc, Μήδεια, ''Mēdeia'', perhaps implying "planner / schemer") is the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, a niece of Circe and the granddaughter of the sun god Helios. Medea figures in the myth of Jason an ...

", based on a Greek tragedy, was released in January 2014, financed independently through crowdfunding. Their third studio album ''Ann – A Progressive Metal Trilogy'' appeared in 2019, featuring three "Chapters" (each consisting of three songs) about three female historical characters who met an untimely death (

Anne Boleyn Anne Boleyn (; 1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536, as the second wife of King Henry VIII. The circumstances of her marriage and of her execution by beheading for treason and other charges made her a key ...

, Anastasia Romanova and

Anne Frank Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank (, ; 12 June 1929 – )Research by The Anne Frank House in 2015 revealed that Frank may have died in February 1945 rather than in March, as Dutch authorities had long assumed"New research sheds new light on Anne Fra ...

Xandria (2013–2017)

20160701 Mülheim CastleRock Xandria 0359

On 25 October 2013, Dianne van Giersbergen was presented as the new lead singer of the German symphonic metal band Xandria after the departure of

Manuela Kraller Manuela Kraller (born 1 August 1981) is a German soprano singer. She is best known as the former lead singer of symphonic metal band Xandria from late 2010 until late 2013. She was formerly one of the soprano vocalists in the symphonic metal ban ...

. On 28 November 2013, was her first live debut with Xandria in Madrid, Spain. Her debut album with the band was released on 2 May 2014, named '' Sacrificium''. On 31 July 2015, her second work with Xandria called '' Fire & Ashes'' was released with a total of seven tracks: three new songs, two remakes of well known Xandria classics, and two cover songs. On 27 January 2017, her third and current work with Xandria titled '' Theater of Dimensions'' was released. On 13 September 2017, she left ''Xandria'' due to personal reasons and tensions with the other band members.

Reviews

Giersbergen's vocal and performing delivery can pull in the audience, according to a review in ''Mindbreed''.Fabian Bernhard, 30 June 2014, Mindbreed
Xandria live in Berlin – In the sign of the Phoenix
Accessed 4 July 2014, "... highlight, however, was definitely Dianne, who managed to pull the audience right from the start in its spell...." Reviewer Tim Blevins in 2014 noted that Giersbergen seemed to be a "good fit" for the band Xandria.Tim Blevins, 25 April 2014, Music Review
Xandria Releases Video For, "Nightfall"
Accessed 4 July 2014, "...'Sacrificium' ... new vocalist Dianne van Giersbergen (Ex Libris), ... good fit for the band ..." Reviewer Eric May in 2013 in ''New Noise magazine'' described her as a "sultry siren" and wrote that there was "something majestically powerful in her mesmerizing vocal harmonies."19 May 2014, Eric May, New Noise Magazine
Album Review: Xandria – "Sacrificum"
Accessed 4 July 2014, "...Newcomer and sultry siren, Dianne Van Giersbergen (not related to Anneke) ... something majestically powerful in her mesmerizing vocal harmonies. ..." Another reviewer described her vocals as "breathtaking" with great personality, charisma and charm.Vasihali Jain, 29 May 2014, Metal Wani, INTERVIEW: XANDRIA's DIANNE VAN GIERSBERGEN On Success – "It Takes Blood, Sweat, Tears And Above All, Devotion"], Accessed 4 July 2014, "...Xandria fans warmly welcomed ... Dianne van Giersbergen ... personality, charisma and charm only adorns her breathtaking singing and vocal styles. ...Dianne ... vocal coach...."

Discography

Ex Libris

;Studio albums * ''Amygdala'' (2008) * ''

'' (2014) * ''Ann (A Progressive Metal Trilogy)'' (2019) ;EPs * ''Ann – Chapter 1: Anne Boleyn'' (2018) * ''Ann – Chapter 2: Anastasia Romanova'' (2019) * ''Ann – Chapter 3: Anne Frank'' (2019) ;Demos * ''Drawn'' (2005) * ''

'' (2011)

Xandria

;Studio albums * '' Sacrificium'' (2014)Michael Spiggos, Rock Overdose Magazine
Dianne Van Giersbergen (XANDRIA) on Rock Overdose:"Sacrificium marks a new era for the band but also for me as a singer!"
, Accessed 4 July 2014, "... "Sacrificium" is your first studio recording with Xandria. ..." *'' Theater of Dimensions'' (2017) ;EPs * '' Fire & Ashes'' (2015) ;Singles * ''Dreamkeeper'' (2014) * ''Nightfall'' (2014) * ''Don't Say a Word'' (2015) * ''Voyage of the Fallen'' (2015) * ''We Are Murderers (We All)'' (2016) * ''Call of Destiny'' (2017) * ''Queen of Hearts Reborn'' (2017) * ''Ship of Doom'' (2017)

Guest appearances

*'' Electric Castle Live and Other Tales, Electric Castle Live'' by

Ayreon Ayreon is a musical project by Dutch songwriter, singer, musician and record producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Ayreon's music is described as progressive rock, progressive metal and power metal sometimes combined with genres such as folk, electro ...

(2019) *''

Transitus In Western Christianity, the Transitus (''translation'' from Ecclesiastical Latin: crossing) refers to "the time of passage through death to life". The Christian theologian German Martinez writes that: Observance With reference to various C ...

'' by Ayreon (2020) *''Eden'' by Archie Caine (2022) *''Tommy And The Angels'' by Archie Caine (2022)

References

External links

* *
Xandria website

Ex Libris website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Giersbergen, Dianne van 1985 births Women heavy metal singers Dutch heavy metal singers Dutch operatic sopranos Living people Dutch women singer-songwriters Vocal coaches 21st-century Dutch women opera singers People from Boxtel