Evening in Brussels - Zàpisnik zmizelého (Leos Janacek)

A short evening with poems from an unknown tchech poet put on music by Leos Janacek. The title means something like 'diary of one who disappeared'. The text are over 20 small poems found in a booklet of a person who disappeared. Leos Janacek saw these poems when they were published and put them on a musical score for piano, tenor, mezzo and a small choir (3 persons here): a remarkable piece. First an actor said the different poems and afterwards the singer came on scene and sang the whole series afterwards. A nihilistic setting which the piano in the middle of the scene. Remarkable color-lightning and superb voices. Especially the poem where the mezzo and the little choir were singing together was of a astonishing tenderness. Also the piano-play was of a high quality. 8 out of 10

Evening in Brussels

Manfred Honeck conducted the Orchestra of the opera-house 'De Munt'. On the program : Musique funébre pour cordes 'à la mémoire de Bela Bartok', Concerto for orchestra of Bela Bartok and the 5th symphony of Tchaikovsky. Perhaps I wasn't in the mood, but the only one that I realy liked was Bela Bartok's Concerto, even I thought that I liked it more the last time I heard it.

Evening in Brussels

Went to the 'Messa da Requim' of Verdi at the 'Paleis voor Schone Kunsten' in Brussels. Good production with the mezzo Michelle DeYoung and the Bas John Relyea. Soprano was less good and we will forget the tenor. Choir and orchestra of the munt superb and superbly conducted by Antonio Pappano. After all 7/10.

Evening at the opera-house 'De Munt'

Went to the opera-house for a concert directed by Antonio Papano (futur musical director of Covent Garden).
On the program :
Aria of Florestan of Beethovens 'Fidelio' ... could be better
A complete opera in concert 'Il Prigioniero' of Luigi Dallapiccola ... superb !!!
Last movements of the 9th Symphony of Beethoven ... very known as always
Fine evening :-))

Evening in Tournai

I was invited to the closing-concert of the 'Festival de Wallonie'. They had no luck ... First of all the cathedral in which the concert was planned had structural problems which resulted in changement of the location ... (acoustically not so good) and after that Jose Van Dam (famous Belgian baritone) had to cancel (suicide of his son two days before) and has been replaced by the mezzo-soprano Petra Lang. Van Dam planned some months ago to sing Gustav Mahler's Kindertoteslieder (songs of the dead children ... premonition ?) !!!!!! This part was very good ... I think I like more and more Mahler's lieder. Afterwards the 4th symphony of Anton Bruckner : I was very tired and yes it happened ... I almost fell asleep !!! Afterwards invited as VIP to the drink and discussed with an impresario and an artistic director ... very interesting to hear their side of the festival ...

Evening at the opera-house 'De Munt'

Went to a concert in 'De Munt' opera-house. Program : Dvorsak (variations op. 78) , Mahler (Superb 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen' sung by the baritone Peter Mattei - the best one of the evening for me and Mimi) and Schumann (symphony nr 1).

Evening at the opera-house 'De Munt'

Went to a concert with my good friends Mimi and Johan (South Africa). It was the first time Johan saw the opera house from inside ... he is right to say that it is beautiful. French Music : Dusapin (too rough), a beautiful 'La mer' of Debussy, the superb 'Shéhérazade' of Ravel (sung by the mezzo Beatrice Uria-Monzon - very good !!!!) and Bacchus and Ariane of Roussel. It would have been better that they did not play the additional numbers (march from Damnation de Faust of Berlioz and 2 pieces of Carmen de Bizet). Afterwards went for a drink and talked about art ...

Evening in Brussels

Went to a concert in 'De Munt' in Brussels : a little to structured Piano concerto nr 24 of Mozart and a beautiful 5th symphony of Gustav Mahler.

Evening in Brussels

Went to a concert in the 'Paleis voor Schone Kunsten' (translation: Palace for Beautiful Arts') On the program : symphonic orchestra of the opera house 'De Munt' with choir and solo conducted by Antonio Pappano. They played first 'Le tombeau resplendissant' of Olivier Messiaen (superb piece) and the 'Messa di Gloria' de Giacomo Puccini (a bit to easy for me).