An ordinary neo-gothic but packed church, ordinary people, young and old, well mixed and that for the chamber orchestra Prima la Musica by Dirk Vermeulen with soprano Ilse Eerens and on the programme a symphony by house composer Haydn, a youth symphony by Mozart and three arias from the Mozart repertoire. A programme to make your mouth water. All of this perfectly bilingual organised by the Cultural Services of the municipality Jette.
A programme to make your mouth water and that on a wintry Sunday afternoon. This morning there was still a Sunday mass "in Brussels" to be heard here. A popular event that regularly makes it to the TV News. All proof that there exists a much wider and larger audience for classical music than the establishment, i.e. major concert organisers, policy makers and media, often realise. Music lovers shouldn't always be counted at the entrance of the Bozar, De Munt, deSingel, the Concertgebouw… Here, by the way, no "sponsor audience" that threatens to applaud inappropriately after every movement and tickets that are dearly paid for. Here all seats are for sale for 10 € (and 50% discount for 65+ !).
Conductor Dirk Vermeulen: "That has always been important to us: playing for people who don't always find their way to the great music temples, who don't cross those high thresholds, who don't go to that kind of events but do come here and I think it's fantastic to be able to play for such an audience and we do that gladly. Here prevails something you find difficult elsewhere: cosiness, warmth, conviviality". Here a disciplined audience (500 !) listens to two compositions that are not far apart: a late Haydn and an early Mozart. From Haydn we hear the symphony no. 85, "La Reine, a work from when he was already far advanced in his mastery, a work at the peak of his ability. There is no more classical composer than Haydn….
Once again that musical miracle took place: an orchestra that with great dedication of skill and enthusiasm and under the direction of a skilled conductor literally brings to life a lifeless piece of score, sounds it, awakens it again. To the intense pleasure of the listeners, Adagio, Romanze, Menuetto, Finale and Presto of that symphony follow one another, which allegedly – see the nickname - pleased Queen Marie-Antoinette so. The chamber orchestra Prima La Musica in top form.
It remains a pleasure to be able to listen to the layering of a composition: the themes, the rhythm, the harmonies, the instruments. Moreover, Mozart then follows, symphony no. 15 (KV 124). Nice to compare and phenomenal to hear what Mozart could already do, he was 16! You can say that Mozart here is still Haydn: classical, but already with much more playfulness. Listen to that final Presto! You can already hear the brilliance of a child prodigy at work. And much more is heard in the three arias performed by soprano Ilse Eerens. We know it, she has become a star on international stages, world class, she is everywhere… Also now on that ordinary podium of that simple church. Ilse Eerens: "Well, look, here on Epiphany Day in a sold-out parish church that is still decorated fairy-tale-like and Christmassy… They say classical doesn't live, but it's blissful to sing for that fantastic audience."
With the brilliance and creativity of Mozart's music added, her performances sound even more sparkling. The suppleness and strength of her voice fit perfectly with the suppleness and strength of Mozart's melodic lines. Ilse Eerens: "My preference ? Of these three ? That's difficult. They all have aspects that I find super nice. That first aria, from 'Lucia Silla', there's a bit more power in it and I find that super cool to do, in the second, "Voi avete un cor fedele", there's a bit more variety in it and also something mischievous, that woman who asks 'will you be faithful to me once we're married, will that not change ?' I also find that really nice. But then that Susanna aria from 'Le Nozze di Figaro' is just blissful, Susanna is a blissful role to sing, that whole part is blissful, so yes, I choose Susanna !", she says laughing and she sang it indeed blissfully.
- WHAT: Joseph Haydn, Symphony no. 85, "La Reine" ; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Symphony no. 15 (KV 124) , Aria di Celia "Strider sento la procella" from Lucia Silla (KV 135) ; Aria "Voi avete un cor fedele" (KV 217), Susanna aria from "Le Noze di Figaro" KV 492.
- WHO: chamber orchestra "Prima la Musica", chief conductor Dirk Vermeulen , with soprano Ilse Eerens
- ORGANISATION: "Klassiek in de abdij", Cultural Services Municipality Jette.
- WHERE: Sint Pieters Church Jette
- WHEN: 6 January 2019