Christmas concerts are available in abundance during this period. We were tempted by the promising press release from the Heist concert association 'Sinfonia Heist'. They were not idle words. The promises were more than fulfilled. Everything flows seamlessly into each other, stylish and refined.
A faithful partner is the Diamond Symphonic. This name refers to Heist-op-den-Berg's rich diamond past. The Diamond Chamber Orchestra also emerged from this symphonic orchestra. A broad core of the former 'Golden Symphonic Orchestra', the orchestra that was founded and provided the accompaniment for 'Helmut Lotti goes Classic'. A success story without equal. From 1995 to 2005, André Walschaerts conducted on three continents: in virtually all European countries, South Africa, the USA and Canada. A man of many talents indeed.
The world trembles, creaks, squeaks, crackles in a polyphonic chorus. Music still fills churches as a connecting factor between people. Music as an expression of harmony, which we are all searching for in these troubling times. The program includes not only traditional songs, but efforts were also made to introduce the audience to other gems from the world repertoire. It is nice and pleasant to mention that many female instrumentalists are given beautiful solo parts, and of course there is also soprano Anneke Luyten. She can already present many credentials. As a young ambitious singer, she participated in the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2011, where she reached the semi-finals. She performed various opera characters in opera houses. The Royal Palace has also called upon her for the annual Christmas concert.
As an opener, 'Concert for 2 flutes, allegro molto and Largo-Allegro' by A. Vivaldi. This work belongs to Vivaldi's finest and most virtuosic works for flute: Kristel Schellens and Ilse Van Den Meuter give their best in this sparkling and brilliant composition. André Walschaert conducts it all rhythmically, lightly and energetically. The Famos Choir joins in with three traditional Christmas carols: 'Hoor in stille dalen' a French traditional, 'Hoe Leit dit kindeke' an old Dutch song and by J.S. Bach 'O Kind van het Licht'.
The program is beautifully structured with another instrumental piece 'Largo from the concerto for 2 violins' by J.S. Bach. Bach composed this concerto as part of a concert series he led as director of the Collegium Musicum Leipzig. The softly caressing violin sounds of, among others, Danielle Solignac evoke a certain melancholy and nestle like a balm around your heart.
Soprano Anneke Luyten continues with 'Maria's Kind'. I find it somewhat a missed opportunity that the choir was not used to sing the refrain together each time. That would have added value. The audience listened breathlessly to the 'Ave Maria' a beautiful version by the Italian composer, singer and instrumentalist from the 16th century G. Caccini. A song in which she can fully demonstrate her technical skills in the many vocal ornamentations.
Following is an instrumental piece composed by A. Vivaldi: 'Allegro from the concerto for piccolo.' Liane Lazeroms enchants the audience with a wealth of sounds from that tiny musical instrument, it is like a little bird singing its highest song. Then it is the choir's turn again with two French-speaking and two Anglo-Saxon Christmas carols, embedded in beautiful arrangements. The singing is done with great nuance, only unfortunate that more polyphony was not incorporated into the songs.
Another lady from the Diamond Chamber Orchestra, Katelijne Vanderhoeft, can demonstrate her talent in the 'Adagio from Clarinet Quintet' a standard work for clarinetists by the German composer H.J. Baermann. She does so with brilliance. Then follow again several Christmas carols, more playful and more recent 'Fum, Fum, Fum' a Christmas carol from Catalonia, the negro spiritual 'Go tell it the Mountains' and 'Felice Navidad' by J. Feliciano which received a jazzy arrangement with double bass accompaniment.
Anneke Luyten demands attention again with two songs 'Minuit Chrétien' and a more sober and recent version of the 'Ave Maria', by R. Stolz. It closes with the choir singing 'Let it snow', 'Jingle-Bell Rock' and the traditional 'We wish you a Merry Christmas'.
A Christmas concert serene and yet full of joy at the birth of a child, but above all classy throughout. A grateful audience honored this Christmas concert by Sinfonia Heist with a standing ovation.