In the darkened theater café of the Fakkeltheater, three soloists stand: Lissa Meyvis, vocals; Lester Van Loock, piano and Yunah Proost, cello in the warm, golden light of four spotlights. A cosy setting.
They do not perform grey, well-worn repertoire, but beautiful surprising compositions by well-known and lesser-known composers in a bond between East and West in a cross-pollinating dialogue. With compositions that get under your skin, move and warm you. Beginning with: 'Elegie' from the versatile repertoire of Jules Massenet. The cello begins gently and sonorously, the piano joins in with a subtle interplay of tempo and tone color. Lissa Meyvis performs the beautiful text.
We linger a while longer in the French atmosphere with 'Après un rêve' by Gabriel Fauré on a poem by Romain Bussine. A beautiful work for cello and piano. The cello carries within it the melancholy of what has been lost. The longing for what is no more. Lissa Meyvis brings an touching rendition of awakening from a beautiful love dream. 'Berceuse Orientale, op 16' is an instrumental work by Austro-Hungarian composer Ludwig Lebelle for cello and piano. He gave cello lessons himself and coached chamber music classes.
Both instrumentalists continue with work by Russian composer César Cui, again a work exclusively composed for both instruments. César Cui wrote quite a number of operas, but his love went especially to small miniature-like works such as 'Orientale, op 50, no 9 from Kaleidoscope'. Yunah Proost lets her instrument tell a whole story in a spirited and sparkling 'Persian improvisation' with alternative scales and rhythms. Between her and the music there is only room for enormous intensity and sincerity.
'The Girl from Shiraz' from Persian Folk Songs by Reza Vali. In his work he blends traditional Persian music with modern Western techniques. Yunah Proost and Lester Van Loock give each other free rein. In the pianist's playing, sounds of the well-known Silent Night come through, countered by Eastern sounds on the cello. The whole sounds fascinating through the lamenting cello and the ethereal piano sounds. In their bodies, every fiber is music. Two instrumentalists who follow each other seamlessly in their intentions.
Soprano Lissa Meyvis commands all attention again with a song by French composer and pianist Cécile Chaminade (8 Aug. 1857 – 13 Apr 1944). This independent Frenchwoman left behind an impressive oeuvre including this 'Chanson de Neige' in an atmospheric interpretation by Lissa. She continues with an aria 'Frère ! Voyez!' from Werther by Jules Massenet based on the German novel 'Die Leiden des Jungen Werthers' by Goethe.
'Jewish Life' by Ernst Boch is a set of three short pieces he wrote during his Jewish period. During that period he wrote very melancholic works. Many cellists have this music on their repertoire. The first part 'Prayer' has the timbre of a hymn in a traditional Ashkenazi synagogue. The second 'Supplication' radiates a sense of urgency. The third part has a lamenting character and is reminiscent of a typical East European Jewish folk song.
After the intermission, more compositions for cello and piano. But it begins with 'La Kahena' from 'Deux pièces exotiques pour piano' by Gaston Knop. It tells of the monotonous and heavy journey of a caravan through the desert, arrival at an oasis and casting off all sorrows in dance. Lester plays technically but also very emotionally with much nuance.
'Meditation' four short pieces for cello and piano by English composer Frank Bridge, perhaps best described as mindfulness music that soothes and comforts and takes all stress out of you. 'Chanson Slave' by Ludwig Lebelle, is both melancholic and spirited at once. 'Vocalise op 34, no 14' is an accompanied song by Serge Rachmaninoff. The popularity of the Vocalise is so great that the piece has been arranged for various instruments including cello and piano. Here the three components come together. Since it was Mother's Day, it was dedicated to all mothers.
Continued with 'Impromptu' for piano and cello by Armenian composer Alexander Arutjunyan. It is a layered work partly melancholic and exuberant with a cheerful cadence. This concert is concluded with two songs 'Chemins de l'amour' a composition by Francis Poulenc on text by Jean Anouilh and 'Je veux vivre' by Charles Gounod from the opera Romeo & Juliet.
A small tip: use the microphone. The audience seated on the stage? doesn't understand what is being said in between. This leads somewhat to annoyance. Also learn to use the microphone properly!
A beautiful and well-differentiated program that enjoyed approval.