three concerts

I have some time again.

And I was at two concerts last week and tonight I will go to Martin Fondse at the Kring in Amsterdam.

Last week I went to Guy and Roni in Amstelveen, their last show. There was a lot going 'round about this show so I wanted to check it out. The music by David Dramm I enjoyed very much, and the playing Monica Germino, Anne LaBerge and Tomoko Mukaiyama was great.

Saturday I went to de Zaterdagmatinee at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. I didn't expect too much, it being at the Concertgebouw, tiny seats, you have to be quiet, etc. But it was a great concert by the Musikfabrik. They played a program about virtuosity. A concept that didn't mean anything. What I heard was a program with a variety of works that were all played extremely well and with great passion. I didn't care too much for the Paganini which, I guess, was in the program because of the concept, but other than that, it was great.

I came in the first place for Anthony Fiumara's new piece for string quartet. Very minimal, with a clear form and story. The piece was original and I believe that Fiumara will be around for a long time if he keeps writing pieces like this. I loved it.

Ligeti's piano concerto was unbelievable. Wow, what a piece. I think I heard this before, but this time it left un everlasting impression on me.

There was also an ensemble piece by Lachenmann. I am not sure what I thought of this, but I was comfortable and at ease. I just let everything come over me. And that was the experience... almost zen-like.

And of course: On Jimmie Yancey by Andriessen. I heard this many times before. A fantastic piece, one of the Dutch high lights in the repertoire. Musikfabrik plays very well, but I do miss the Volharding a little bit in this case :-)