Gilles Van der Linden is widely recognized as one of the most promising young heldentenors of his generation. His powerful voice, combined with profound musical interpretation, has captured the attention of renowned opera houses both in Belgium and internationally.

He began his musical journey as a boy soprano in the Antwerp Cathedral Choir under the direction of Jan Schrooten. He went on to study voice at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, where he was mentored by Guy De Mey, Anne Cambier, and Bernadette Degelin. He further refined his technique and artistry at the Ghent School of Opera and Music Theatre under the guidance of Gidon Saks and Marcos Pujol.

Gilles demonstrated his dedication to the craft through his participation in the Mediterranean Opera Studio & Festival in Sicily—an intensive program focusing on vocal technique and stage performance. He also attended masterclasses with world-renowned artists such as José van Dam, Giuseppe Giacomini, Torsten Kerl, José Cura, Salvatore Fisichella, and Susanna Eken, all of whom played a significant role in shaping his artistic path.

On stage, Gilles has taken on an impressive range of roles. At Opera Vlaanderen, he appeared as Jack O’Brien and Tobby Higgins in Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny, Don Luigino in Il viaggio a Reims, Trabucco in La forza del destino, Carlos in Le Duc d’Albe, and Remendado in Carmen. At La Monnaie / De Munt in Brussels, he performed as Rodriguez in Don Quichotte and one of the Esquires in Parsifal. His repertoire further includes roles such as Quint in The Turn of the Screw, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas, Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and Eurimaco in Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria. He also portrayed Andres in Wozzeck, Melot in Tristan und Isolde, and the Steersman in Der fliegende Holländer.

Gilles has collaborated with several esteemed conductors, including Marc Minkowski, Alexander Joël, Alberto Zedda, Dmitri Jurowski, Bo Holten, Yvan Meylemans, Mark De Smet, Bart Van Reyn, Benjamin Pope and Thomas Netopil —each contributing to the refinement of his musical expression.

In addition to his operatic work, Gilles is deeply passionate about art song. In close collaboration with the renowned pianist Helmut Deutsch, he devotes himself to the interpretation of the German Lied repertoire, bringing to life works by composers such as Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms.

With his commanding vocal ability, artistic depth, and unwavering dedication, Gilles Van der Linden continues to establish himself as a compelling and inspiring presence in the world of opera.