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 at the theater - De Monstruos y Prodigios, la historia de los 'Castrati'

Saw a Mexican piece at the 'De Bottelarij' about the castrate singers from the baroque period till the beginning of the 20th century. A good piece mostly spoken in Spanish, but hints of French and Italian. A soprano sung/played the part of the castrate. 8 out of 10 I loved the part when a men in the audience, which at the end seemed to be part of the program, started to insult the actors and they reacted by throwing little sandwiches (little soft breads in Belgium) to the audience, and we throwed them back.

Day at home

- midday

Framed the Golde leaves shrine nr 3.

- 18h

Went with my wife to "A midsommernight's dream" of Shakespeare, in French, played by the 'Balladins du mirroir'. It is in our village that these people played it in their 'circus'. It was a subtle mixing of theater and acrobatic movements above our heads. A superb presentation ... It is a pity that these were the last presentations of this work. They had it for several years on their program. Next year a new piece will be given and they even will go to Canada with their circus. We are lucky that they reside in our little village ... I surely will go to their other works ...