Sunday, June 17, the city of Geel was not only the center of the country for young runners crossing the city, it was also the center of classical music. The public benches in CC De Werft were well filled for the Golden Labels Awards Ceremony, the annual event of Klassiek Centraal.
Since June 2009, Klassiek Centraal has presented the Golden Labels during a celebration. They are the awards for classical music in multiple categories. The first category is CD/DVD (max. 10 awards), the second category covers books and performances where opera, ballet, symphonic music, chamber music and others can be featured, limited to five Golden Labels. Category three is more focused on individuals and organizations for their remarkable achievements. This year, festival, project, young talent and career were highlighted.
15 laureates out of 20 came from home and abroad to receive their prize. An achievement in itself, as it is not easy to bring people with a busy concert schedule together for such an event. Some absent winners sent a video message with a thank you and so they were virtually also part of the celebration.
Katelijne Boon (Klara) smoothly guided the well-furnished celebration with friendliness and modesty, with all attention going 100% to the laureates.
Bernard Fierens Gevaert, descendant of the builder of the Brussels royal conservatory and Advisor for Classical Music for the French-speaking Community (a position that, incomprehensibly, does not exist in Flanders) delivered a sometimes striking festive speech. In particular, the attention that Klassiek Centraal gives to young and/or unknown talent that belongs to the world class was emphasized by him. He also explicitly thanked Ludwig Van Mechelen, founder of Klassiek Centraal and initiator of the 'Golden Label' with the words: "If Klassiek Centraal did not exist, it would have to be invented now".
The celebration was enlivened musically and with dance by some Golden Label laureates and emerging talent. Composer Piet Swert wrote a piece for clarinet and oboe as a 'bonus'. Roeland Hendrikx (Golden Label Career) played this work with Swert (Golden Label CD), which was very well received by the audience. 13-year-old pianist Steven Kleeven, first laureate of the Cantabile competition 2018, performed a Chopin ballade solo and then a work by Poulenc for piano and clarinet, together with Roeland Hendrikx.
The 16-year-old top musician Balder Dendievel performed a work for oboe and piano together with his mother. Later during the celebration, he received the Golden Label Young Talent from the hands of 'Uncle Willem' (Edwin Rutten).
Israeli mandolin player Alon Sariel (Golden Label CD) not only performed a solo work, he also accompanied Ugo Mattheo De Keyser, a 12-year-old ballet dancer with a rarely seen talent. Together with Mees Pardoen and Lena Van Hout (who rehearsed the dances in a few hours after Arwen Verbesselt was injured two days before the ceremony) they danced a work by Piet Swerts, performed by, among others, Roeland Hendrikx. Lena Van Hout danced a strikingly beautiful solo to music by Telemann.
Geel's mayor Vera Celis closed the celebration with a very sincere thank you to Klassiek Centraal for the organization and with all praise for the deserving laureates. She immediately invited Klassiek Centraal to organize the Golden Labels Awards Ceremony again in her city. We'll tell you that the city of Mechelen also wants to open its doors to Klassiek Centraal to celebrate 10 Years of Golden Labels in June 2019. It will be a tug of war.
You can view the complete list of Golden Labels here and you can find a complete photo report here.