An ordinary neo-gothic but packed church, ordinary people, young and old, well mixed and that for the chamber orchestra Prima la Musica of Dirk Vermeulen with soprano Ilse Eerens and on the programme a symphony by house composer Haydn, a youth symphony by Mozart and three arias from the Mozart repertoire. A programme to lick your lips over. All of this perfectly organized bilingually by the Culture Department of the municipality Jette.
A programme to lick your lips over and that on a wintry Sunday afternoon. This morning the Sunday mass "in Brussels" was still heard here. A popular event that regularly makes the TV News. All proof that there is a much wider and larger audience for classical music than the good society, i.e. large concert organizers, policy makers and media, often realize. Music lovers are not always to be counted at the entrance of the Bozar, De Munt, deSingel, the Concertgebouw… Here by the way no "sponsor audience" that threatens to applaud inappropriately after every movement and tickets that are dearly paid. Here all seats are for sale for 10 € (and 50% discount for 65+ !).
Conductor Dirk Vermeulen: "That has always been important to us: to play for people who don't always find their way to the great music temples, who don't cross these high thresholds, who don't go to that kind of events but do come here and I think it's fantastic to be able to play for such an audience and we do it gladly. Here reigns something that you rarely find elsewhere: coziness, warmth, conviviality". Here an audience of 500 listens in a disciplined manner to two compositions that are not far apart: a late Haydn and an early Mozart. From Haydn we hear the symphony no. 85, "La Reine", a work from when he already stood far in his mastery, a work at the height of his ability. There is no more classical composer than Haydn…..
Again that musical miracle took place: an orchestra that with great commitment of ability and enthusiasm and under the leadership of a skilled conductor literally brings a lifeless score to life, sounds it, awakens it again. To the intense delight of the listeners follow one after another Adagio, Romanze, Menuetto, Finale and Presto of that symphony which allegedly – see the nickname - pleased Queen Marie-Antoinette. The chamber orchestra Prima La Musica in top form.
It remains a pleasure to be able to listen to the layering of a composition: the themes, the rhythm, the harmonies, the instruments. Moreover, Mozart follows, symphony no. 15 (KV 124). Nice to compare and phenomenal to hear what a Mozart could already do then, he was 16! You can say that Mozart is still Haydn here: classical, but already with much more playfulness. Listen to that final Presto! You already hear the brilliance of a prodigy at work in it. And much more of that is to be heard in the three arias that soprano Ilse Eerens performs. We know it, she has become a star on international stages, world class, she is everywhere… Also now on that ordinary stage of that simple church. Ilse Eerens: "Well, you see, here on Epiphany in a sold-out parish church that is still decorated in a magical and Christmas way… They say that classical is not alive, but it is blissful to sing for that fantastic audience."
With the brilliance and creativity of Mozart's music added, her interpretations sound even more sparkling. The fluidity and power of her voice fit perfectly with the fluidity and power of Mozart's melodic lines. Ilse Eerens: "My preference? Of these three? That's difficult. They all have aspects that I find super nice. That first aria, from 'Lucia Silla', there's more power in it and I find it super cool to do, in the second, "Voi avete un cor fedele", there's more variety in it and also something mischievous, that woman asking 'will you be faithful to me once we're married, will that not change?' I also find that really cool. But then that Susanna aria from 'Le Nozze di Figaro' is just blissful, Susanna is a blissful role to sing, that whole part is blissful, so yes, I choose Susanna!", she says laughing and she sang it blissfully indeed.
- WHAT: Joseph Haydn, Symphony no. 85, "La Reine" ; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Symphony no. 15 (KV 124) , Aria de Celia "Strider sento la procella" from Lucia Silla (KV 135) ; Aria "Voi avete un cor fedele" (KV 217), Susanna aria from "Le Noze di Figaro" KV 492.
- WHO: chamber orchestra "Prima la Musica", chief conductor Dirk Vermeulen , with soprano Ilse Eerens
- ORGANIZATION: "Klassiek in de abdij", Culture Department Municipality Jette.
- WHERE: Sint Pieters Kerk Jette
- WHEN: 6 January 2019
