Well, Honda makes you think of faster cars and motorcycles, but Honda is more. The company engages in patronage in sectors that stand for quality and innovation. The arts sector is one of them and because the director of Honda Benelux studied music himself and is a music lover, he chose music from that sector. This is how the Honda Competition for Classical Music was born in 2016.
The first final took place in February 2017, the second in February 2018 and we may hope that in the coming 100 years there will again be a final in February of this competition held between all music colleges (i.e. conservatories) in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia. Let us generalize a bit and say that this competition is a kind of successor to what we long ago knew as the Pro Civitate Competition, later called the Gemeentekrediet competition and later still the Dexia competition.
The first edition was promising, but the second was, as it were, the real start. All conservatories sent two candidates for the preselection. After the semi-finals, held in October 2017, three finalists remained who would compete for first place, so to speak the place of 'the best' conservatory student of the past or current academic year. This formulation is not entirely correct (yet), because each college selects two students who may participate in the preselection. There are no preliminary rounds per conservatory yet.
Stunning final produces winner of the highest level
We can safely say that the final of this competition was at a level that can be compared to other, larger competitions. Two sopranos and an oboist performed for a well-filled hall at the Brussels Conservatory. A hall that was very cold, but thanks to the tension that everyone, both the candidates and the audience, felt, everyone got a bit warmer anyway. Still that. When, oh when will this increasingly run-down building finally be thoroughly renovated???
Soprano Virginie Léonard (Namur) opened the final evening. She sang works by Debussy, Brahms, Strauss, Tchaikovsky and Menotti. Especially in the romance 'Otchevo' by Tchaikovsky she shone like a great singer. Her powerful volume fits perfectly in the Russian repertoire. A repertoire, as we learned afterward, that appeals strongly to her. Well then, choose Slavic classical music, dear Virginie, and your path will be strewn with roses. Léonard became third laureate.
Emma Posman has a charming soprano voice. She is moreover entirely charming and seems plucked right out of a Così fan tutte by Mozart with her frail, pure voice. Just recovering from a severe flu, she dropped a demanding aria by Donizetti, for which all understanding. It was very much to be appreciated, moreover, that she took the stage and defended her place, which she did with flying colors and glory: she became second immediately. A very justified choice by the jury. Posman sang works by Strauss, Wolf, Bellini, Duparc and Gounod.
If you already know who came third and second, then you know that now the first prize winner comes into play. The 16-year-old Balder Dendievel conquered all hearts with an oboe performance that exceeded all expectations. He made everyone realize that the oboe is so much more than that instrument that sometimes gets beautiful solos in some symphonic work or adds color to an aria in an opera. He achieves the absolute summit of where the genius of the performer must touch to make the most brilliant work resound in its purest form. With him, the oboe serves the greatest value that classical music stands for. On stage, Balder undergoes a metamorphosis, he is not the pleasant pubescent boy you can talk about all sorts of things with, he becomes a mature musician who goes to the utmost and makes not only his instrument, but his entire body, his gaze, his body language speak and gives you insight into music that you could not appreciate so much before. If I were a jury member, I would have given him 98 or 99% and perhaps even 100%. C.P.E. Bach, Britten, Poulenc or Mozart, all the works he played, solo or accompanied, commanded a general silence from the audience that listened with wide eyes of amazement. Yes, Balder Dendievel is already one of the great performers in Europe, if not the world, and we hear not only from the oboe but also from the organ and classical percussion.
Toddler plays oboe
Balder tells that when he was five years old he was allowed to blow on the oboe of a babysitting cousin and believe it or not, sound came out! Immediately little Balder was sold, he would learn the oboe. His musical parents thought that was a good idea and a private teacher was approached. Ten years later, Balder is already in his first master's year at the Antwerp royal conservatory, he has won numerous prizes and is welcome at youth orchestras both at home and abroad.
In Antwerp he is in the personalized 'Young Talent' study program and enjoys the patronage of Francis Pollet of the I Solisti Academy, which provides support with gaining experience and provides financing where possible.
Balder's dream? To study much more, graduate in Antwerp and then take lessons in Germany. A position in a major orchestra would be his favorite to hold. His eyes twinkle when he says it. Chamber music and now and then a solo? Yes indeed, those are also welcome alongside the orchestral repertoire.
Balder Dendievel, remember the name (and also the family name because he has several brothers who are also very talented and are making their way like his 20-year-old brother Martijn who is already conducting in Germany and the 13-year-old Jappe who brings a lump to everyone's throat when he makes his bassoon and trombone sound).
Many thanks, which I must (!) express to Mr Paul Tomanek, chairman of Honda Benelux. He took the initiative to do 'something' for young musicians who deserve encouragement. Well then, he started with a competition that will gain much more fame and resonance. Flanders is somewhat lagging here, as only internet radio La Classica and Klassiek Centraal were present for the Dutch-language press. Musique 3 broadcast the final evening live on air and the French-language written press was also well represented. We are hoping that Honda can and may continue this particularly important and commendable patronage for many years to come.
- WHAT: Finale Honda Competition For Classical Music
- LAUREATES: Balder Dendievel (first prize), Emma Posman (second prize), Virginie Léonard (third prize)
- WHERE: concertzaal KCB, Brussel
- WHEN: Wednesday 7 February 2018
- PHOTOS: © Yoshie Kuwayama
