The aim of 'Amazing Haydn', to refocus on unjustly forgotten composers who were close to Haydn, exceptionally led on Sunday, October 8, 2023 to musicians from our region: Vlad Weverbergh and his young, dedicated Terra Nova Collective. And it turns out that Vlad is pursuing that very same goal.
He introduced Flanders through listening to the Antwerp composer and clarinet virtuoso Henri Joseph Tobi (1741-1809). Now they link Haydn and Mozart to their contemporary, the Bruges-born Hébert Leemans, who made a name for himself in Paris until he died at just 30 years old. Apart from the programme, Vlad imitated the 18th-century concert tradition: he mixed sections of Symphonies by Leemans with "La Passione", Haydn's number 49. And that provided an interesting basis for comparison. Because, just when you think Haydn is a bit better, Terra Nova comes out with a sparkling "Tempo di caccia" from Leemans' Symphony no. 12, which was not unknown to Haydn and the Esterhazy's. A draw? For some, yes; for others, no.
Mozart revisited
Vlad reached back to the "iron repertoire". He smoothly swapped the proverbial conducting baton for a jewel of an old basset clarinet that produced a superb authentic sound in Mozart's well-known Clarinet Concerto. And he dressed it in a surprisingly new outfit. The accents, adjustments, seamless cadence transitions, his body language—it was all different. The combination with the gut strings and historical wind instruments in the orchestra completed the immersion.
The audience thanked him with a standing ovation for this concert "pas comme les autres".
- WHAT: Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Pieter Van Maldere, Hébert Leemans
- PERFORMERS: Terra Nova Collective conducted by Vlad Weverbergh
- WHERE: Sint-Pieter-en-Paulkerk | Veemarkt Mechelen
- ORGANIZATION: Amazing Haydn / Haydngenoogschap Vlaanderen