Pressing the “pause life” button with Arvo Pärt in Brussels

By Zenaida des Aubris, 17 May 2021

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Reviewed at National Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Brussels on 15 May 2021

Pärt, Adam's Lament

Pärt, Como cierva sedienta (As the hart panteth)

Pärt, Da pacem Domine

Flemish Radio Choir

Brussels Philharmonic

Kristjan Järvi, Conductor

Magisterial performance of Feldman's Rothko Chapel in Brussels

Timothy Robson, 6th November

Part of Brussels' Ars Musica festival, the concert also included a fun world premiere by Claire-Mélanie Sinnhuber, and the riveting Streaming Arhythmia by Anna Thorvaldsdottir.

****1

Magnificent Rachmaninov tribute from Lugansky and Denève in Ghent

Marc Haegeman, 4th April

Nocturne may not be your dreamlike, moonlit summer night stroll, but quite a grim-visaged journey, threateningly dark with the occasional shaft of light piercing through in powerful, sonorous tutti.

*****

Luminous Beethoven and impetuous Connesson in Bruges

Marc Haegeman, 1st March

Denève and the Brussels Philharmonic launched into Guillaume Connesson’s Flammenschrift with enough excitement and energy to illuminate the whole city.

***11

An unfussy, memorable War Requiem from Noseda

Nicolas Nguyen, 11th October

Gianandrea Noseda conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Netherlands Radio Choir and an ideal team of soloists in a memorable performance of Britten's War Requiem.

****1

Fiery, formidable Boris Godunov at the Concertgebouw

Jenny Camilleri, 8th September

This year’s NTR ZaterdagMatinee concert series in Amsterdam kicked off with a Boris Godunov that left nothing to be desired.

*****

Joyful, showy Bernstein at Cadogan Hall

Benjamin Poore, 31st May

Exuberance and reflection from the Brussels Philharmonic in a celebration of Leonard Bernstein.

****1

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Zenaida des Aubris

Zenaida des Aubris, based in Berlin, has over 30 years experience in artist management and production of classical music and opera in the United States, Europe and Asia. Currently, she offers consultation to music competitions and schools as well as to individual recent graduates on how to manage themselves and kickstart their careers through her company Opera Career Advice.