Well, Honda makes you think of faster cars and motorcycles, but Honda is more than that. The company engages in patronage in sectors that stand for quality and innovation. The arts sector is one of them and because the director of Honda Benelux studied music himself and is a music lover, he chose music from that sector. This is how the Honda Competition for Classical Music was born in 2016.
The first final took place in February 2017, the second in February 2018 and we can hope that in the coming 100 years there will be a final of this competition again each February, which is held between all music colleges (i.e. conservatories) in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia. Let us state in a somewhat generalized way that this competition is a kind of successor to what we long ago knew as the Pro Civitate Competition, later called the Municipal Credit competition and later still the Dexia competition.
The first edition was promising, but the second was, as it were, the real start. All conservatories sent two candidates for the pre-selection. After the semi-final, held in October 2017, three finalists remained who would compete for first place, so to speak the place of 'the best' conservatory student of the past or current academic year. This formulation is not entirely correct (yet), because each college selects two students who may participate in the pre-selection. There are not yet preliminary rounds per conservatory.
Stunning final produces winner of the highest level
We can safely say that the final of this competition was at a level that can be compared with other, larger competitions. Two sopranos and an oboist performed for a well-filled hall at Brussels Conservatorium. A hall that was very cold, but thanks to the tension that everyone, both the candidates and the audience, felt, everyone managed to get a bit warmer anyway. Still that. When, oh when will this increasingly dilapidated building finally be thoroughly renovated???
Soprano Virginie Léonard (Namen) opened the final evening. She sang works by Debussy, Brahms, Strauss, Tchaikovsky and Menotti. Especially in Tchaikovsky's romance 'Otchevo' she shone as a great singer. Her powerful volume fits perfectly with Russian repertoire. A repertoire, we learned after the performance, that appeals to her strongly. Well then, choose Slavic classical music best Virginie and your path will be strewn with roses. Léonard became third laureate.
Emma Posman has a charming soprano voice. She is moreover entirely charming and seems to have been plucked straight out of Mozart's Così fan tutte with her frail, pure voice. Still recovering from a severe flu, she dropped a demanding aria by Donizetti, for which all understanding. It was very much to be appreciated, by the way, that she stood on the stage and defended her place, which she did with great splendor: she immediately became second. A very justified choice by the jury. Posman sang works by Strauss, Wolf, Bellini, Duparc and Gounod.
If you already know who came third and second, then you know that now the first prize winner comes to the fore. The 16-year-old Balder Dendievel captured everyone's hearts with oboe playing that exceeded all expectations. He made it clear to everyone that the oboe is so much more than that instrument that sometimes gets nice solos in some symphonic work or adds color to an aria in an opera. He achieves the absolute pinnacle of where the genius of the performer must touch to let the most genius work resound in its purest form. With him, the oboe serves the greatest value that classical music stands for. On stage, Balder undergoes a metamorphosis, he is not the pleasant teenage boy you can discuss all sorts of things with, he becomes a mature musician who goes to extremes and makes not only his instrument, but his entire body, his gaze, his gestures speak and gives you insight into music that you could not appreciate in that way before. If I were a jury member, I would have given him 98 or 99% and perhaps even 100%. C.P.E. Bach, Britten, Poulenc or Mozart, all the works he played, solo or accompanied, commanded general silence from the audience who listened with wide eyes of amazement. Yes, Balder Dendievel is already one of the great interpreters in Europe, if not the world, and we learn that he plays not only oboe but also organ and classical percussion.
Young child plays oboe
Balder tells how at age five he was allowed to blow on the oboe of a babysitting cousin and believe it or not, a sound came out! Immediately young Balder was sold, he would learn oboe. His musical parents thought that was a good idea and a private teacher was consulted. Ten years later, Balder is already in his first master's year at the Antwerp royal conservatory, has won a series of prizes and is a welcome guest at youth orchestras both in and outside the country.
In Antwerp, he is in a personalized 'Young Talent' study program and enjoys the mentorship of Francis Pollet of the I Solisti Academy, who provides support in gaining experience and provides funding where possible.
Balder's dream? To study much more, graduate in Antwerp and then study in Germany. He would most like to have a place in a large orchestra. His eyes twinkle as he says it. Chamber music and the occasional solo? Yes indeed, those are also welcome alongside the orchestral repertoire.
Balder Dendievel, remember the name (and also the family name because he has several brothers who are also very talented and are making their way, such as his 20-year-old brother Martijn who now conducts in Germany and the 13-year-old Jappe who makes everyone's throat tighten when he makes his bassoon and trombone sound).
Many thanks, which I must (!) express to Mr. Paul Tomanek, chairman of Honda Benelux. He took the initiative to do 'something' for young musicians who deserve encouragement. Well then, he started a competition that will gain much more recognition and resonance. Flanders is somewhat lagging behind here, as only internet radio La Classica and Klassiek Centraal were present for the Dutch-language press. Musique 3 broadcast the final evening live on air and the French-language written press was also well represented. We hope that Honda can and may continue this particularly important and commendable patronage for many years to come.
- WHAT: Finale Honda Competition For Classical Music
- LAUREATES: Balder Dendievel (first prize), Emma Posman (second prize), Virginie Léonard (third prize)
- WHERE: Concertzaal KCB, Brussel
- WHEN: Wednesday 7 February 2018
- PHOTOS: © Yoshie Kuwayama