“Superb Brel clone” - Raeford Daniel, Showtime
I must urge you to sample this latest presentation. It is a magnificent restatement of everything Brel stood for, and is delivered by a young man so steeped in both the lore and style of Brel that he might pass for a resurrection of the man himself . (Cedric) grew up in the tradition of Brel and together with his excellent co-presenter and classically trained pianist, Stella Konik, has thoroughly researched his life and work. The show is a splendid result.....spellbinding performance

“Brut mais éternel”  - Express dimanche, 6 Août 1995, 1ère page, Port Louis, Maurice
Rose Hill Theatre, Mauritius
Rough Diamond...a été un véritable tour de force vocal de Cedric Vandenschrik (Christian Deni). Non seulement il chantait les classiques de Jacques Brel, mais il les restituait à l'état brut, dans leur pureté discographique. Admirablement soutenu par Stella Konik, la Sud-africaine, il a subjugué l'auditoire, qui lui a d'ailleurs fait un triomphe, même si, à la fin, il a tenu à respecter la mémoire du chanteur jusqu'au bout en ne cédant pas aux applaudissements du public qui l'invitait à bisser, car Jacques Brel ne faisait jamais de rappel.

“ A multi-faceted gem”  - Christina Kennedy, Showbiz Vibe, The Citizen, January 2006
Rough Diamond is sure to thrill fans of the master songsmith, and win countless new converts to his brilliance. It is truly a gem of a show. Belgian singer Cedric Vandenschrik together with South African pianist Stella Konik enthrall the audience with their simple and minimalist yet highly entertaining tribute to Brel. What makes this show truly accessible is the fact that Vandenschrik provides explanatory links that translate and expand upon the lyrical content and context of the songs. This means that even if you don't understand French, you will grasp the essence of each number. And the mood and tone of each song, together with the players' physical interpretation, enables one's imagination to fill in any gaps and paint vivid mental pictures. If you don't shed a tear at the Old Folks, masterfully sung by Konik, you aren't human. The emotional power of these songs is allowed to shine through in this show, making use of Vandenschrik's impressive voice and expressive gestures, as well as Konik's intuitive playing and singing. Well-known numbers such as Marieke, Les Bourgeois, Le Moribund, Madeleine, Ne Me Quitte Pas and Quand on n'a Que L'Amour mix with lesser-known tracks. Rough Diamond highlights the many facets of the brilliant Brel, but it is also an ode to the beauty of the French language. Alliance Francaise, sign me up for a course straight away!

“Musical Memories a theatrical gem” - Adrienne Sichel, Tonight Stage, The Star
With Rough Diamond, Cedric Vandenschrik and Stella Konik pay their respects to the master of heart-wrenching melody who gave the world timeless lyrics about life, love and war....this pristine pristine interpretation is Brel unplugged. Vandenschrik commands the stage in the persona of Brel, who recounts parts of his life through the narrative which links and paraphrases the mainly French songs. This articulate chanteur's vocal power and dramatic integrity provides freshness to the now legendary Brel soul ballads, and the not so legendary. Completing this gem of a homage is Stella Konik's musicianship and sublime vocal rendering of The Old Folks. The sweet mingles with the bittersweet....this show deserves to reach a wider audience. Most striking about this foray into the Brel repertoire is its purity and artistry. An evening to savour.

“Show of lyrical power and beauty”  -Barry Ronge , Theatre critic, The Star Tonight, South Africa
She is a pianist who sings and he is a singer who can act his way through a song better than most performers and they have brought a glittering diamond to offer to the music lovers of Gauteng. Stella Konik is an exceptional accompanist helping Vandenschrik to find fresh intonations and unexpected phrasings that re-focus songs that we all know perhaps a little too well. But the real pleasure of the evening is the revelation of new talent in a simple, unaffected show of great lyrical power and beauty.

“Brel wat 'n Oscar verdien”  - Roline Norval, Die Burger ZA
Van al die kabarette met nabootsende elemente wat hulde bring...sou ek aan dié een die Barn se Oscar toeken, as daar so-iets was. Dit is 'n uitvoerproduk wat oral in die land gesien behoort te word. Selfs Jacques Brel behoort tevrede te wees met wat dié talentvolle duo doen om sy spesifieke betowering vas te vang. Stella Konik se klassieke musiekagtergrond skemer duidelik deur in die manier waarop sy die musiekverwerkings gedoen het. Wat sy op die klavier optower – veral in dramatiese trefkrag – neig soms selfs om die hele opvoering te oorskadu. ....(Cedric Vandenschrik se) verhoogpersoonlikheid, outentieke Fransheid en vertolking voer jou mee, en laat jou selfs hoendervleis kry. Geen Brel-aanhanger durf dit misloop nie, en 'n beter bekendstelling sal 'n mens beslis nie in Suid-Afrika kry nie.