This sparkling aperitif concert in the Theater Café of the Fakkeltheater was once again a great success thanks to the interesting selection of vocal and instrumental pieces in a multi-layered program. Classically trained soprano Lissa Meyvis is the singing hostess and surrounds herself with both established and young talent from October to May, always on the second Sunday of the month.
A particularly pleasant formula with great appeal. This time she shared the stage with 26-year-old cellist Yunah Proost. Despite her young age, she already boasts an impressive portfolio. She obtained her Bachelor and Master degrees at the Antwerp Conservatory and subsequently refined her talent in London with David Cohen and with Gabriel Swabe in Maastricht before moving to Switzerland to complete a postgraduate degree with Roel Dieltiens at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste. Piano virtuoso Lester Van Loock has become a permanent fixture at these concerts, accompanying and performing as a soloist.
The power of simplicity
A concert without frills. In this intimate chamber concert, the voice and instruments are central. A varied program with something for everyone, but always stylish with well-known works as well as lesser-known gems from the rich musical literature.
For the opening number, Tower of Babel by Sir Elton John was chosen. Cellist Yunah Proost takes the opening notes, starting tenderly, Lissa sings and pianist Lester Van Loock enters fortissimo. This immediately captures the full attention of the audience. Unusual for a Sunday morning, but no less appreciated, hostess Lissa sings two lullabies. The first Wiegeliedje by Flemish composer Lodewijk Mortelmans, text by Guido Gezelle, followed by the American The Little Horses. Then an instrumental intermezzo Fantasiestücke by Robert Schumann in an arrangement for cello and piano in three parts: the first dreamy and melancholic, the second energetic and the third pushes the performers to their limit. Lissa takes her turn again with a beautiful piece by Charles Aznavour Mon émouvant amour. A song about a beloved who is deaf, living in silence. The lover wants to speak her language. Every word, every sentence, Lissa gives unique and sober meaning. In the first part she sings simply, in the second part she translates each word with sign language. Her delicate empathy with moving sensitivity goes straight to your heart. A performance that touches through its purity. It's enough to make you swallow hard. Yunah then plays The Girl from Schariz, a Persian folk song by Reza Vali. She coaxes flowing sounds from her instrument that you wouldn't necessarily associate with a cello, rather reminiscent of the typical sound of an oud. A fine display of craftsmanship. From Persia it goes to Argentina with the song Alfonsina y el mar by Ariel Ramirez. A song that is part of the national folklore. A woman has dark thoughts and is drawn to the depths of the sea. A poignant interplay between voice and cello. An instrument that this time is not played with a bow but with the hand like a double bass. The first part ends with Pohàdka III by Leoš Janáček. A story about a king. It sounds cheerful but has a melancholic undertone. As in all fairy tales, there is something bittersweet in it.
Second part
The second part begins with a piece from the French repertoire, a short excerpt from Elégie by Jules Massenet.
Bach's music is timeless, transcends fashions and trends. His cello suites belong to the Old Testament of cello literature. Yunah Proost chose Suite no. 1 in G, with the movements "Allemande", "Sarabande" and "Gigue". She plays with great expression in flowing movements. Followed by a spirited song Das Veilchen, composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Lester Van Loock impresses with Hungarian Rhapsodies no. 2 by Franz Liszt, a real energy bomb. This folk music is partly melancholic, partly cheerful and lively. Liszt is a fantastic composer and Lester Van Loock a splendid performer. After Lester Van Loock's fireworks comes a charming and measured composition by Chopin for cello, which he composed for a friend. Lissa Meyvis sings a composition by Leonard Bernstein written in 1944 for a musical Dream with me.
A musical that never reached the stage, however! Then it's the turn of the instrumentalists again. A moment is taken to reflect on the war in Ukraine. Respectfully, an instrumental version of their national anthem is performed Shche ne Vmerla Ukrainy i Slava i volia. As a contrast and penultimate song, a piece by Kurt Weill from his French period, a song about an imaginary country 'Yoykali' where all people live in harmony together. As a final point, the Wiegeliedje by Lodewijk Mortelmans is taken up again. The more than satisfied audience forced an encore. The hall emptied and everyone could continue to enjoy a wonderful, sun-drenched spring day.
Sunday, October 9 marks the start of the new season of Bellissama, running until Sunday, May 14.
- TITLE: Yunah's Tower of Babel
- WHERE: Fakkeltheater, Antwerpen
- WHEN: Sunday May 15