GENT 2021: Max Richter & Eleni Karaindrou (WSA) and Great Greek Composers Concert

I updated the original post. An other concert has been announced: Great Greek Composers.

Cool!

Eventhia was already a guest at the concert many years ago. No word of Vangelis, but I can't imagine they'll not play something of him, even though that might be harder in a concert setting.

Joep, I agree with the language. often they reference Hollywood/American movies, as if it is only then there's importance, but at the same time, these festivals try to show and schedule films and shows far from Hollywood etc, to show there's more to it then that part of the world. It's a bit weird indeed.

I agree in coverage, all aspects must be covered, but only if they are relevant. The thing is, WSA doesn't know what cultural impact means. How many people have been baffled by her music in Mad Max, quote referenced it, etc....

Insane they're almost sold out. Not that I'm going, but still is this due to COVID? Limited seating?

I would have loved to see/hear/interview Richter. He's high on my list of desired interviewees, and I have pretty much 90% of all his stuff. But again -- if there are limited seats now already, and I can't plan anything untill late September at the earliest, it doesn't look well.

This starts today!

I was there!

And my film music friends too. After almost two years, seeing them, chatting, having dinner, was the highlight.

Max Richter and Eleni Karaindrou were the guests of honour, the former taking up most of the concert part. But, to me, the highlight was the piece from The Weaping Meadow. Not only is it a fantastic theme, but I have very fond memories of this score, because I first heard it after Demetris send some selections to me, via postal mail, early in the days of scorereviews.com. Good times! Fitting the melancholy of the music. Eleni performed herself on the piano. There was an old type of violin of the 18th century too!

Clearly most of the people who bought a ticket, were here for Max Richter. Obviously On the Nature of Daylight was part of the concert, a piece from his album The Blue Notebooks, but used in Arrival, Shutter Island and many others. An other highlight, and the loudest part of the concert was a suite from The Leftovers, short but impressive. Also the two pieces from Werk Ohne Autor (Never Look Away) were good stuff. But it is also clear that Richter has a limited set of tricks in his bag. There isn't much difference in Mary Queen of Scotts or Never Look Away or Miss Sloane. It has the same buildups, same tempo, same long notes, ...

The concert was at the Opera building at the Kouter. We bought our tickets 5 days after the WSA announcement, and were only able to buy tickets at balcony level 4. Not a good view. Because of this, I missed the intimicy of the music, even though it was all excellently performed. I hope it's never there again.

Kaat and I had to drop off kids at my parents for the day and night, so we joined the fun Mario and Thomas had a bit later. We went for a pre-concert dinner closeby the venue, so no hurry. Classy restaurant, separate room, with 9 people. Similar to the years you were in Ghent actually. Before the dinner we went to the same place Kaat en I often go when we are in Ghent, because they make the most delicious waffles with vanille. We convinced other people to do as well.

After the concert we went for a drink next to the Vooruit (Vooruit itself had a party, but we weren't into that).

It was great that the concert was on a Saturday again. That was a long time ago (the past few years, the concert was on a Wednesday or Thursday, not allowing or enthusiasming people to take holiday that day, to make space for dinner, drinks, chats, ...)

Looking forward to next year!

Yes, we have all become very serious people.