Need a music prize? Make your choice: an Ultima or perhaps a Mia, a Supernova? No of course not, surely a Klara! But there are also Caecilia's and Golden Labels to be had. And among our French-speaking neighbours les Octaves. But the Klara's always lead the charge in the new year to honour deserving musicians and productions from the past year with a wooden Klara logo. .
It was a festive entrance for nominees and guests: welcomed on the red carpet on the steps of Flagey by the Harmonie d'Accordéon de Bruxelles. Inside, there was some warm-up music from De Beren Gieren. "Here comes spring, here come the Klara's" said cheerful presenter Greet Samyn. Those young Bears were allowed to "mess around" with their rather special jazz. It was Hendrik Storme, the music director of the Klara Festival himself, who got to present the first Klara, this one for "Young Promise". Last year she was on the shortlist, today it was a "prize" for soprano Lore Binon. She told the audience how happy she is to be able to make music every day but now she was a bit nervous "because I have to talk instead of sing….". Klara for Soloist of the Year went to the "leading lady" of the gambists, Romina Lischka. From the jury report: "versatile, innovative, mixing old and new music with Indian and Arabic sounds", favourite gambist of Herreweghe and more on tour than at home! The Klara for Ensemble went to Ictus which has been travelling the world for 25 years now with "contemporary music". 2018 was a bumper year for them said Hendrik Storme. One example? For the first time since 1882, "new music" was heard during the Bayreuther Festspiele and they performed it: the opera "Der verschwundene Hochzeiter" by Austrian Klaus Lang. Worth keeping an eye on: their anniversary concert at Kaaitheater on 18 December.
There followed more attention for contemporary music. A double bill for Annelies Van Parys: "Composer of the Year" and "Music Personality of the Year". It could hardly be otherwise with four remarkable creations in the past year, including that impressive A war requiem. There will be another creation this year, commissioned by the Concertgebouworkest, dedicated to her 'spectral' teacher Luc Brewaeys. "Thanks to him I stand here", Annelies Van Parys honoured him.
And then there was that special "Iedereen Klassiek"- Klara. That is one for someone who carries that slogan not only in their heart but also works on it daily. Klara looked for such a "missionary of classical music" for the first time and found one in a curate who taught hundreds of young people from his region – Ekeren and North Antwerp – to sing: Jef Cleymans, an octogenarian by now, founder and driving force behind all those 'C-choirs', one of the largest choir organisations in the country.
Finally the Career Prize. That was for Jerry Aerts, general and artistic director of deSingel, whom he elevated to "International Arts Centre of Flanders". He is on the verge of retirement and, nice coincidence, will soon be succeeded by Klara Festival director Hendrik Storme. Culture Minister Sven Gatz got to present that Klara and described Aerts as a born networker, who also "doubled" the building. Always present, never obtrusive, that's how Gatz described him. Chantal Pattyn had another characteristic description of his qualities: "Kung Fu Panda".
Of course there were also Klara's for the best CDs in the categories Classical, Jazz and World Music. Maestro presenter Marc Janssens got to present a prize for the best Belgian classical productions, for the Maria Vespers by Philippe Herreweghe and his Collegium Vocale (Phi) and for the best international CD which was for Chopin: Ballades & Nocturnes by Leif Ove Andsnes, released on Sony. Klara's jazz woman, Lies Steppe, got to do that for the award-winning jazz productions. Jazz is doing well in our country she said, we keep innovating and the prize went to the impressionistic Particles by the Ben Sluijs Quartet, (On Purpose Records). The best international CD was one recorded here in our own Studio 4 at Flagey, during a concert by the Fred Hersch trio, Live in Europe (Palmetto Records). Late Night man Bart Vanhoudt presented the Klara's for the World Music CDs. To Naktes ("Nacht") by the trio Merope for the Belgian production. A trio with Lithuanian singer and velvety voice Indrė Jurgeleviciute, guitarist Bert Cools with his minimal electronics and bansuri flutist Jean-Christophe Bonnafous (label Granvat). And then a Klara for that other revelation, for the international CD Partir by Elina Duni (ECM/Universal). A Swiss-Albanian singer who also sits at the piano and accompanies herself on guitar and percussion with a compelling story about migration, in a style that combines traditionals, world and jazz. Listen to or re-listen to all these musicians in the programmes Late Night Lab, Late Night Jazz and Maestro!
- WHAT : Klara Awards Ceremony
- WHEN : Friday 22 March 2019, studio 4 Flagey
- PHOTOS: © Klara