Golden Label Music Theater
These Funny Freunde, masters of classical singing: Alexandra Franck, Lissa Meyvis, Jokke Martens and master pianist Lester Van Loock each build a national and international career. A rock&roll life, then they perform here or elsewhere in an opera or a concert.
Loose threads that intertwine. Fortunately, their artistic paths cross regularly. Success doesn't come automatically. An artist must profile themselves and be entrepreneurial. After the previous successful editions, there is finally a sequel that everyone has been eagerly awaiting.
The three classically trained singers Alexandra, Lissa and Jokke, together with classical pianist Lester present for the third time a witty program. Much enthusiasm was invested in this project. Four individuals who take the stage with passion, energy and personality.
Their talent chest is full of drawers. With the bricolage technique, the mixing of different genres: opera, operetta, musical, pop and jazzy standards, with humor as a connecting thread, they once again captivate the audience with a dadaistic collage.
Passion for music and 'What a difference a Friend makes'
'Funny Freunde' is a combination of craftsmanship and fresh virtuosity. The stage as a playground. As Gustav Mahler put it: 'The most important thing in music is not in the notes!'. Music is not a straitjacket, one can express oneself in it. This quartet cannot be accused of a lack of ingenuity and originality.
After 'Ode an die Freunde' in 2012 and 'A fine line' in 2016, their third creation also sparkles and shimmers. They search for the connection between music and theater, subtle and yet captivating. Impressing with bells and whistles is not always preferable to the ingenuity of simplicity, the instinctive. They don't need a pretty set to inhabit or ingenious lighting.
The relevance, the vibe is their singing and the music that keeps you electrified from beginning to end. With their explosive spontaneity and wonderfully melodic sounds, they forge the loose compositions into an iron-strong whole in the theater universe. Due to the intimate setting, their body language and facial expressions are easy to follow. Their wild play brings about a chain reaction of tingles in your body, which burst into delightful fits of laughter.
Old and new
Their choice fell on musical highfliers from the classical and lighter repertoire, but equally lesser-known pearls receive a stylistic upgrade. The voices resonate, vibrate together in perfect close harmony. The solo passages are performed with expressivity and clear phrasing.
Lissa, for example, brings 'My Funny Valentine' by Richard Rogers in an intense and fragile way, balanced by the sultry 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' by temptress par excellence Alexandra. Also 'Si, mi chiamano Mimi' from La Bohème by Puccini they give an extra dimension. Spicy and playful is the duet 'Prenderó quel brunettino' between Alexandra and Lissa from Così fan Tutte by W.A. Mozart and catty and sharp is the 'Duetto buffo di due gatti' by G. Rossini.
Jokke can fully immerse himself in 'I want to Sing in the Opera' by George Arthurs. An impressive feat of perfect pitch is when the three singing trio shuffle three compositions together: 'My Way' by Paul Anka, 'All By Myself' by Eric Carmen and 'Life on mars' by David Bowie. Lester is a master of the keyboard, a skillful pianist literally as well as figuratively, who gives meaning to every note. As an accompanist, he is the backbone of the whole. As a soloist, he succeeds in taking your breath away with his impressive piano playing, including 'Etude opus 10 no 5' by Frédéric Chopin and 'Prelude no 1 in C' by J.S. Bach. A pianist with an exceptional touch.
The taste is for more…
Time is fluid, gets stretched, bent. When you wish it would go fast, it goes slowly. When you wish something would last forever, it speeds toward the finish. So too 'Funny Freunde'. Their musical discourse testifies to intelligent construction.
The great strengths of this quartet are first and foremost craftsmanship, vocal and instrumental mastery, moreover joie de vivre in a cocktail of subtle, absurd humor, and infectious vitality. A performance that makes you happy and leaves you recharged. If all performances this year achieve such quality, we're set.
'Funny Freunde' a fascinating performance with a rich spectrum: with poetic moments, lightness and darkness, intimate versus exuberant. This quartet knows how to move maximally with minimal means. Their creative drive, singing and playfulness deserve a Golden Label Nomination.
- WHAT: 'Funny Freunde' by Ode an die Freunde
- WHO: Alexandra Franck, Lissa Meyvis, Jokke Martens, Lester Van Loock
- WHEN & WHERE: premiere Sunday January 6, 2019, Zwarte Zaal Fakkeltheater[embed]https://youtu.be/k6UFMSt6C-c[/embed]