The Middagconcerten of Antwerpen rightly deserve to be called the most important concert association in the Antwerp region. Not only do they organize 30 chamber music concerts on their own initiative, but they regularly fill concert halls to capacity. And they do so with minimal official support for already 70 seasons, and largely with musicians who have made their home and work in our country.
On Friday, February 2, 2018, the stage featured the rather uncommon ensemble of a piano quartet, in which the highly gifted and refined musician that pianist Maiko Inoue is, manifested herself as the beating and inspiring heart. It was with pleasure that I made the acquaintance of her fellow players: Alissa Margulis, who is currently attached as a violin teacher at the Antwerp Conservatory; Gergely Kota, who after his studies at the Brussels Conservatory and the Queen Elisabeth Chapel travels around with various ensembles but also teaches in Watermaal-Bosvoorde; and finally cellist Johannes Burghoff, who together with Maiko Inoue are the organizers of the annual Chamber Music Festival of Jodoigne and with whom the Middagconcerten van Antwerpen have a cooperation agreement that undoubtedly benefits both organizations.
The audience was introduced to the Piano Quartet by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), which he wrote at the age of 16 during his studies in Vienna. Buried under the snow, it came to be heard again in New York in 1964. It is and remains a youthful work by the titan that Mahler would become, but undeniably the solidity, originality and daring of the future genius are already clearly evident here. The musicians gave it a gripping rendition, with pure lines and a well-balanced tonal balance between piano and strings.
The Piano Quartet op. 47 in E-flat by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was also a revelation for many a listener present. Schumann wrote it in his 'chamber music year' of 1842, in which the piano quintet op.44 also came into being. Here too, the music-making was a pleasure to hear. Near perfection, the four musicians played with the greatest attention to one another, which was especially noticeable in the Andante cantabile, which sang and continued to sing.
The applause was therefore commensurate, allowing the audience to enjoy themselves once more with the Salut d'amour by Edward Elgar (1857-1934).
An hour of intense chamber music at such a level: it brought smiling faces all around.
The Antwerp Middagconcerten are press partner of Klassiek Centraal.
You can find the full program here
- WHAT: Middagconcert Antwerpen Amuz
- WHO: Maiko Inoue, Johannes Burghoff, Alissa Margulis, Gergely Kota
- WHERE: AMUZ
- WHEN: February 2
- Photo: m.t.