The Ghent twin brothers Taha and Yassine Posman, pianist and clarinetist, are only 23, but have already accomplished much. Together with cellist Jacob Van Durme they form the Trio Malatya, with which they have won several prizes. They are musical all-rounders.
Taha conducts the Nove Canto choir, bringing contemporary choral music. Yassine takes conducting lessons with the renowned Kristiina Poska, conductor of the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen until last season Flanders Symphony Orchestra.
Baptism by Fire
In their youthful enthusiasm, the Posman brothers wanted to organize a festival with some friends. That group of friends became a full symphony orchestra with which they gave a concert on May 2 in the Ghent Parnassus Church. It was the maiden voyage for conductor Yassine Posman. On the program: the Hebrides Overture and Third Symphony by Mendelssohn conducted by Yassine, and the Schumann Piano Concerto with soloist Taha Posman. They had only a few days to rehearse. All students from the conservatories in Ghent and Brussels who committed themselves to voluntarily sacrificing a few days without compensation. It speaks volumes about the persuasive power of the Posman brothers to pull off something like this in our age of profit-chasing and packed schedules.
They inherited that enthusiasm from their father André Posman, who in the nineties helped establish the Ghent concert hall De Rode Pomp. There he organized hundreds of chamber music concerts, often featuring contemporary music and big names. Russian artist Boris Shapovalov was something of the house painter for De Rode Pomp. He painted large decorative walls in the concert hall and foyer.
Despite the political difficulties in Russia, Shapovalov remains a family friend of the Posmans. That's why the Shapovalov Foundation was established, and since the beginning of this year the Posman brothers have been organizing the Shapovalov Sessions in the foyer of the former De Rode Pomp. There fellow students get a platform and the spirit of De Rode Pomp is brought back to life. The ad hoc orchestra and project on May 2 was also named after him: the Shapovalov Orchestra.
Parnassus
The Ghent Parnassus Church was a Franciscan church that was deconsecrated twenty years ago and today is a popular social restaurant. Above the public hangs the enormous skeleton of a fish, a meter-long wooden construction by French artist Jean-Pierre Clemençon. After the opening measures of the Hebrides Overture, I notice that the orchestral sound remains balanced and even, thanks to that wooden fish. In churches, sounds often blend together; here the sound fills the space without excessive echo. The orchestra plays beautifully together.
Conductor Yassine Posman keeps his troops in perfect order. You might think he's a seasoned conductor. The famous Schumann Piano Concerto is then masterfully performed by brother Taha Posman. After the intermission, the Third Symphony by Mendelssohn, the Scottish, sounds as if played by a professional orchestra that has been performing together for years. You would forget this is an ad hoc orchestra, assembled for this one concert. What a marvelous initiative, born from the enthusiasm of the young people themselves. The enthusiasm and persuasive power with which the Posman brothers could realize this and reach their Parnassus. SMendelssohn's Symphony, the Scottish one, performed like a professional orchestra that has been playing together for years. You'd forget this is an ad hoc ensemble, put together for this single concert. What a beautiful initiative, born from the enthusiasm of the young people themselves. The enthusiasm and conviction with which the Posman brothers managed to pull it off and reach their Parnassus.
