Sunday 17 April 2011

Something a little more fun

OK something better…

After getting the frustration of my working out week out yesterday I have been trying to think about the good things that have been going on to try and get myself out of the downer that I have been in for the last few days.

There is enough good going on at the moment, but it's difficult to sit and write a post about it.

Last night though was something to post about…  Mrs Stace, her parents and I went to the Hoogland Church in Leiden to listen the The Bach Choir & Orchestra of the Netherlands perform Bach’s ‘Matteus Passion’.

It was simply stunning!  The acoustics of the church just added to the atmosphere – with the dramatic cut offs in some of the movements resonating around for seconds after the orchestra and choir have stopped.

I’m always in awe when I see a live classical concert – the volume that can be produced without any electrical amplification is just amazing, and no matter how good your system at home there is nothing like hearing it live.

It was a wonderful evening and just what I needed.

Just as an aside…  I t was interesting to see the way that the performers interacted.  Specifically the two sopranos…  They both performed solo’s, but the looks that were passed from one to the other as they left their position in the choir to come to the front of the stage were enough to let anyone who saw know that there is no love lost between the two…  Must make for some interesting rehersals!

2 comments:

  1. I can only imagine what that concert must have sounded like! I'm guessing a great big pipe organ was involved as well as the orchestra and choir.

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  2. It was simply stunning! The sound and the atmosphere all combined to make it magical.

    For some reason they did not use the big organ (when I went to see the Messiah a few years ago they didn't use the big organ either), they used a small portable version (not, I hasten to add, an electric organ!). But it still filled the church - maybe that is the reason... The small one can fill the church, but not overpower the singers and other instruments. I wonder if you used the big organ would it overpower the other sounds?

    Stace

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