Instrumental fireworks
Vilém Veverka is no stranger to Amazing Haydn devotees. For the third time and a fourth concert, he was already in Mechelen. One of those times was alongside Kateřina Englichová. And, as her name suggests, she is beautiful as an angel. And she plays like an angel.
Originally a pianist, she has performed as a soloist and chamber musician with an impressive track record, whether with original, arranged or contemporary harp music, whether or not specially written for her. So on Sunday she delighted a full Hanswijkbasiliek with work by Pearl Chertok (1918-1981) and with "Drei Jazz Stücke für Oboe & Harfe" by Josef Vejvoda (°1945). Since 2008 she has formed a sparkling, inseparable duo with Vilém Veverka.
This versatile "jack-of-all-trades" captivates from the first note to the last that he coaxes from his oboe. He stands, steps, creeps, goes down on his knees, sways to the rhythm of the music, beats time briefly, laughs, gives commentary, charms. No instrument can convey a melody as poignantly as Veverka's oboe. No wonder he is the official representative of Buffet-Crampon France, the specialist in manufacturing woodwind instruments.
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Benda, Smetana, Debussy, Ravel, Mozart, Haydn, they all passed in review.
A spontaneous standing ovation was rewarded with two encores, with the intensely gripping "Gabriel's oboe" with which Ennio Morricone gave the film "The Mission" an extra dimension.
Two more Amazing Haydn concerts to go:
On Sunday, October 29, the Atmos Quartett Wien will perform and on Sunday, November 5, the Kurpfälzisches Kammerorchester Mannheim conducted by Johannes Moesus will confront the audience with Mozart and the "Mannheimer Schule".
The flower of England
"Far from the madding crowd" and the suffocating traffic chaos, in the quiet Jan Bolstraat, cellist Frederika Mareels and pianist Alessandro Cervino organized a house concert to say "you" to you. Lutenist Jacob Heringman and mezzo Clare Wikinson evoked the atmosphere that prevailed at the court of Queen Elisabeth I.
Under the motto "The Flower of England" they gathered love poems by Sir Philip Sidney, who as a courtier, diplomat, soldier, scholar, translator and poet did honor to his nickname "The Flower of England". A subject in which Jacob Heringman and Clare Wilkinson were at home like fish in water. They have been working together for thirty years, although Jacob lives and works across the pond and Clare has been living in Belgium for ten years, four of which in Mechelen. This and a Belgian husband explain her flawless, melodious "Flemish".
Moreover, she backed up her commentary with an image of each of the three key figures of the recital. These were, besides Sir Philip Sidney, his beloved, Penelope Rich, and his artistic sister, Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke.
This educational, sensitive British immersion was carried by the velvet voice of Clare Wilkinson and the spirited lute accompaniment and solos of Jacob Heringman.
Anyone who drifted off was confronted with versatile graphic work by Mechelen's Kristien Hubrechts.
And while we hope for a possible acquaintance with the life and music surrounding the legendary first female professional cellist Lise Cristiani (Paris 1827 - Tobolsk 1853), after whom Frederika and Alessandro named their music center, their home is open for a jazz concert on December 10. All this is part of the Caputsteen Wijkconcerten.
Info at http://muziekcentrumlisecristiani.be
