Yin & Yang – pure alchemy
Pieter Embrechts is active in countless projects. A musician and performer for whom adventure is a second nature. He takes on the role of host and recites love poems, stories and songs about malleable love. From Hugo Claus to Toon Tellegen and from Judith Herzberg to Herman Brusselmans. At his side soprano and multi-instrumentalist Noëmie Schellens and classical guitarist Maarten Vandenbemden. In a playful ode, all the stops are pulled out in a rollercoaster of music and images in a refined artistic language. La Serenta opens with quarrelling voices. No roses without thorns. Followed by intimate images of hands that tentatively touch and caress each other. They gain even more emotional weight with a few guitar chords and the high dreamy vocal sound and vocalisations of Noëmie Schellens. She performs compelling opera arias by Vinsenzo Bellini to the nostalgic sound world of Raynoldo Hahn. Memorable melodies performed with restrained fervour and a touch of melancholy.Les vieux amants
In the illustration of love, the focus is not only on young, beautiful and flashy. The focus is on the underlying harmony between two people. The creators opt for subtle effects: a series of photographs over the years visualise a life of loyalty and affection. An older couple stands in their vegetable garden on a garden path, each time in the same place. Photos throughout all seasons in work clothes or smartly dressed illustrate their life. Proud of their place, until only the man remains with a gaping emptiness beside him. A couple of older South American ladies are filmed as one reads a spicy passage from a book to the other. This leads to intimate sighs and confidences. The programme is full of paradoxes. Arias are switched to poetry, ballads, rock and then back to classical. It is pleasant listening when Pieter Embrechts recites poetry with his warm voice. A delight to the ear. In the ballads, he switches from baritone to tenor, drawing impressive sounds from his electric guitar worthy of Jimmy Hendrix. With image material 'lightning flashes', a coup de foudre is illustrated. Fire blazes up. First a small hesitant flame, then raging scorching fire. The fiery glow of an all-consuming passionate love with accompanying soundscape. The opera arias complement the images. Also very beautiful is the old film footage of a trapeze artist with angel wings. You see the eye movement of a man who secretly and eagerly follows her flight through space. The projection leaves the cloth and the angel hovers over the church vault. Well done! The adapted music takes you to higher realms. With tempo changes and dynamics, the whole thing remains engaging and interesting. Towards the end, Maarten Vandenbemden plays the beautiful adagio from the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo. Noémie Schellen sings. Throughout, atmospheric and glowing music that gets under your skin. A warm-hearted concert brought by a trio with unstoppable drive. A small note, according to my personal feeling, the sound was at one point a bit too loud to be pleasant. © Koen Broos © Koen Broos © Koen Broos © Koen Broos © Koen Broos © Koen Broos WHAT: La Serenata WHERE: Sint-Martinuskerk, Zaventem PERFORMERS: Maarten Vandenbemden [guitar], Noémie Schellen and Pieter Embrechts [vocals]
Music: Vinsenzo Bellini, Raynoldo Hahn, Joaquín Rodrigo Poetry & prose: Hugo Claus, Toon Tellegen, Judith Herzberg, Herman Brusselmans.
WHEN: Friday 3 March, 8 p.m.