Instrumental fireworks
Vilém Veverka is no stranger to the Amazing Haydn faithful. For the third time and for a fourth concert he was already in Mechelen. One of those times was at the side of Kateřina Englichová. And, as her name suggests, she is beautiful as an angel. And she plays like an angel.
Originally a pianist, she performed as a soloist and chamber musician with an impressive track record, whether with original, arranged or contemporary harp music, whether or not specially written for her. So on Sunday she surprised a full Hanswijkbasiliek with work by Pearl Chertok (1918-1981) and with "Drei Jazz Stücke für Oboe & Harfe" by Josef Vejvoda (°1945). Since 2008 she has formed a sparkling, inseparable duo with Vilém Veverka.
This versatile "jack-of-all-trades" captivates from the first note to the last that he coaxes from his oboe. He stands, steps, creeps, bends his knees, sways to the beat of the music, beats time for a moment, laughs, gives commentary, charms. No instrument can convey a melody so poignantly as Veverka's oboe. No wonder he is the official representative of Buffet-Crampon France, the specialist in manufacturing woodwind instruments.
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Benda, Smetana, Debussy, Ravel, Mozart, Haydn, they all passed in review.
A spontaneous standing ovation was rewarded with two encores, including the intensely gripping "Gabriel's hobo" with which Ennio Morricone gave the film "The Mission" an extra dimension.
Two more Amazing Haydn concerts to come:
On Sunday 29 October comes the Atmos Quartett Wien and on Sunday 5 November the Kurpfälzisches Kammerorchester Mannheim of Johannes Moesus confronts the audience with Mozart and the "Mannheimer Schule".
The flower of England
"Far from the madding crowd" and the nerve-wracking traffic chaos, in the quiet Jan Bolstraat, cellist Frederika Mareels and pianist Alessandro Cervino organized a house concert to say "you" to you. Lutenist Jacob Heringman and mezzo Clare Wikinson evoked the atmosphere that prevailed at the court of Queen Elisabeth I.
Under the motto "The Flower of England" they gathered love poems by Sir Philip Sidney, who as a courtier, diplomat, soldier, scholar, translator and poet did all honor to his epithet "The Flower of England". A subject in which Jacob Heringman and Clare Wilkinson were at home like fish in water. They have been working together for thirty years, although Jacob lives and works across the pond and Clare has been living in Belgium for ten years, four of which in Mechelen. This and a Belgian husband explain her flawless, melodious "Flemish".
Moreover, she supported her commentary with an image of each of the three key figures of the recital. These were, besides Sir Philip Sidney, his beloved, Penelope Rich, and his artistic sister, Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke.
This instructive, sensitive British immersion was carried by the velvet voice of Clare Wilkinson and the spirited lute accompaniment and solos of Jacob Heringman.
Anyone who drifted off for a moment was confronted with versatile graphic work by Mechelen-based Kristien Hubrechts.
And while hoping for a possible acquaintance with the life of and music surrounding the legendary first female professional cellist Lise Cristiani (Paris 1827 - Tobolsk 1853), after whom Frederika and Alessandro named their music center, their home is open for a jazz concert on 10 December. All this is part of the Caputsteen Neighbourhood Concerts.