The genre of the mélodie reached its acme of success during the ‘Belle Époque’ and is seen today as a jewel of French 19th- and 20th-century music production. Connoisseurs who can recall the production Mélodies from 2003, recorded by Sandrine Piau and Jos van Immerseel, realize that these top musicians are a fabulous duo in this delicate, poetical repertoire. With their consistent interpretation and inspiring performances the two soloists achieve a pure, refined sound that perfectly matches these intimate French songs. Soprano Sandrine Piau is one of the leading ladies of the opera, with a voice that can easily deal with all nuances and textures of these subtle chansons. Jos van Immerseel will accompany her on an Erard from 1897, an instrument from his personal collection.

Performers
Sandrine Piau, soprano | Jos van Immerseel, forte piano

Programme
Works by Gabriel Fauré, Francis Poulenc & Claude Debussy

 

16 February, 2012 20:00 -- AMUZ

The friendship between the married couple Robert and Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms was very special. They were united by their love for music of course, but also by their mutual affection and their great respect for each other’s compositions. During a musical project week at AMUZ school children write their own compositions, thus gaining in turn their friends’ respect. A meeting with Amie d’AMUZ Claire Chevallier will make the music of the Schumanns and Brahms even more vivid. Because whether we are talking about the middle of the romantic 19th century or the beginning of the fast 21st century: music stays a formidable way to express yourself! During the presentation moment the school children will present their creations.

17 February, 2012 13:00 -- AMUZ

During a concert tour in 1853 young Johannes Brahms was introduced to the couple Robert and Clara Schumann. They struck up a friendship for life, and the favourable criticism of the influential Schumann was instrumental in putting Brahms on the map as a composer. Amie d’AMUZ Claire Chevallier will bring some talented soloists along for a concert of intimate chamber music by the two soul mates. You will hear Drei Fantasiestücke für Klarinette und Klavier completed by Schumann in just two days. The sudden changes of mood in these ‘wordless songs’ reflect the deeply romantic character of the composer. Included is also Brahms’ fabulous first cello sonata, a work conceived as a homage to Bach, referring thematically to Die Kunst der Fuge. To cap it all, Brahms’ Trio für Klarinette, Violoncello und Klavier will offer a supreme example of Brahms’ late chamber music, subdued and intense.

Performers
Claire Chevallier, piano | Vincenzo Casale, clarinet | Sergei Istomin, cello

Programme
Robert Schumann: Fantasiestücke, op. 73 – Intermezzo, op. 4 nr. 5 – Fuga, op. 72 | Johannes Brahms: cello sonata in e, op. 38 – trio in a for clarinet, cello & piano, op. 114

19 February, 2012 14:00 -- AMUZ

Adrian Willaert filled churches and cathedrals with his brilliant polyphony in the 16th century. The San Marco basilica in Venice was his pre-eminent lab with a view to experimenting with double choirs and with diverse spatial positions of musicians. At AMUZ the four BL!NDMAN quartets offer a contemporary response to Willaert’s fabulous renaissance art. From the most remote corners of the concert hall contemporary echoes resound of singers, strings, players of wind instruments and turntables. The BL!NDMAN collective is unsurpassed in its know-how about wrapping early music in a contemporary adaptation. Headstrong as these musicians are, they opt resolutely for hitherto unheard cross-fertilization and for confrontations between old and new. BL!NDMAN pioneered Bach and Buxtehude on sax already a long time ago. Now in turn the 450th anniversary of Adrian Willaert’s death will be commemorated in 2012 with maximum strength!

Performers
Eric Sleichim, arrangements & artistic direction

24 February, 2012 20:00 -- AMUZ

The Scottish tenor Paul Agnew proved his mettle with famous ensembles such as The Consort of Musicke, The Tallis Scholars, The Sixteen and Les Arts Florissants. He is also in great demand as a soloist and performs in big opera houses all over the world. Agnew is one of the great stars of the French baroque repertoire, but his versatile voice is also a perfect match for other types of music. In the international press his extraordinary expressiveness and his spontaneous performances have been greatly acclaimed. In the run up to his concert in AMUZ with lute songs by Dowland and Le Camus, Paul Agnew teaches a masterclass concerning the same repertoire for (pre)professional singers. The public is welcome to attend this coaching for free.

Professor
Paul Agnew

25 February, 2012 12:00 -- AMUZ

The 17th-century French composer Sébastien Le Camus was greatly admired in his days for the way in which he managed to express the words of a yearning love poem into seductive airs. Moreover he was an exceptionally gifted musician who was appointed for key positions at the royal court. The same is true for his contemporary John Dowland, at least on the continent, for at the English court a position kept eluding him. Nevertheless Dowland rightly went down in history as England’s most influential composer of lute music. AMUZ invites two leading British musicians who are entirely at home in this exquisite repertoire. Paul Agnew and Elisabeth Kenny proved their mettle with William Christie’s Les Arts Florissants and are both in great demand on the international concert scene. With superb skill they will guide you through a selection of melancholy songs such as Awake sweet love, In darkness let me dwell and Amour cruel amour.

Performers
Paul Agnew, tenor | Elizabeth Kenny, lute

A foretaste of a love poem
Lady, if you so spite me,
Wherefore do you so oft kiss and delight me?
Sure that my heart oppress’d overcloyed,
May break thus overjoy’d.
If you seek to spill me,
Come kiss me, sweet, and kill me.
So shall your heart be eased,
And I shall rest content and die, well pleased.

26 February, 2012 14:00 -- AMUZ