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Music makes you feel good…

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

It’s official!

A new study from the McGill University in Montreal has shown that we produce dopamine while listening to good music.  Apparently, even the expectation of a good  listen can be enough to produce the dopamine.

Dopamine is our all-natural pleasure drug, released by the adrenal glands when we indulge in certain activities (sex, drugs, good food…) and it makes us feel gooooood.

Moreover, it seems that music that has the ‘tingle factor’ – that is, music that gives us goose pimples of pleasure – produces lots of the stuff.  Which makes me really pleased to think back on concerts I have given when members of the audience have come up to me afterwards to tell me that they had the ‘hairs-standing-on end’ experience.  Makes it all worth-while.

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What’s on in Brussels : 20 – 24 December

Monday, December 20, 2010

A short week, and yet there are some great concerts on offer.

Merry Christmas to you all and a happy New Year.  All going to plan I’ll be back on the ‘What’s on’ job from January 17th.

Monday 20th December

  • Medieval ensemble music: The O-Antiphones in Cyprus with the Huelgas Ensemble, Eglise des Minimes, rue des Minimes, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  14th century vocal ensemble music, will definitely be interesting.
  • Contemporary music – Steve Reich’s Drumming: Ictus ensemble, BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  Riech, one of the most interesting of the minimalists.  This is a fab piece. Oh no, another good concert on the same evening – which to choose?
  • Guitar -Philippe LAFONTAINE “Tout, seul,..”, BOZAR, Hall M, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:30.

Tuesday 21st December

  • Orchestral music – Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances; Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Shostakovich’s Symphony Nr 9: Russian National Orchestra with Gidon Kremer (violin), BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.
  • Choral music – Christmas Concert with Russian Choral music: Le Choeur des Cosaques de l’Oural, Royal Brussels Conservatory, rue de la Regence 30, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.

Wednesday 22nd December

  • Bach Cantatas – “Gott, man lobet dich in der Still” and  “Gloria in excelsis Deo”: Chorus and Orchestra of the Chapelle des Minimes, BOZAR, Hall M, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 12:40.  A Christmas lunchtime concert – only 6 euros!
  • Chamber music – Vivaldi, works including 2 concertos for two trumpets, a violin concerto, a sinfonia and various mezzo arias; and works by Giacomelli, Hasse and Pescetti: Les Agrémens with Vivica Genaux (mezzo), BOZAR, Hall M, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  The programme includes some previously unperformed arias by Vivaldi and contemporaries.
  • Choral music – Grieg, Percy Grainger, Uyttenhove and Gevaert: Vlaams Radio Koor, Flagey, Studio 4, Heilig Kruisplein, 1050 Brussels at 20:15.  A Christmas concert with an English flavour.

Thursday 23rd December

  • Italian Baroque music – Caldara, Corelli, Scarlatti, Durante, Handel and Pergolesi: B’Rock, with Raquel Andueza (soprano), Royal Brussels Conservatory, rue de la Regence, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.
  • Monks Choir St Elizabeth from Minsk: Saint Paulus Church, Hockeylaan 96, 1150 Sint-Pieters-Woluwe at 20:00
Friday 24th December
  • Christmas music – Haydn, Vivaldi and traditional music: Eglise des Minimes, Minimenkerk, 1000 Brussels with Evelyne Bohen (soprano), Bruno de Jonghe (baritone) and Jean-Pierre Ockerman (organ) at 23h30; and on Christmas Day at 11h30 with Patricia van Zuylen en Delphine de Liedekerke (sopranos), Jean-Pierre Ockerman (organ).
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What’s on in Brussels : 13 – 19 December 2010

Monday, December 13, 2010

A bit skimpy this week, but I hope it’s better than nothing…

Monday 13th December

  • Opera Arias – Handel: La Scintilla with Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo soprano) and Franco Fagioli (countertenor), BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  Vocal fireworks guaranteed.

Tuesday 14th December

  • Chamber Music – Beethoven’s String Quartets op 18/5, op 18/2 and op 59/2: Artemis Quartett, Royal Brussels Conservatory, rue de la Regence 30a, 1000 Brussels at 20:00 (intro at 19:30).  Two of his first quartets and a good one from the middle period.  One of six concerts wherein the Artemis Quartett will perform all the Beethoven string quartets.

Wednesday 15th December

  • Lieder Recital – Schubert’s Schöne Müllerin song cycle: Werner Van Mechelen (baritone) and Jozef de Beenhouwer (piano), BOZAR, Hall M at 12:40.
  • Chamber Music – Beethoven’s String Quartet’s op 74 and op 131: Artemis Quartett, Royal Brussels Conservatory at 20:00 (intro at 19:30).  See 14/12 and 16/12.

Thursday 16th December

  • Orchestral Music – Philippe Boesmans’ Ouverture ‘Wintermärchen’; Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez (2nd movement); Bela Bartok’s  Hungarian sketches; Daniel-François-Esprit Auber’s Amour sacré de la patrie (La Muette de Portici); Jacques Brel’s Le plat pays – Bruxelles (arr. Ch. Larrieu); Manuel de Falla’s El sombrero de tres picos (3rd part) and Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9 (4th movement): National Orchestra of Belgium’s Christmas Concert with the European Union Choir and Helen Kearns (soprano), Helen Lepalaan (mezzo), Jörg Dürmüller (tenor), Werner Van Mechelen (baritone) and Raphaella Smits (guitar), BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00 (intro at 19:30).  Too much of a medley for my taste.
  • Chamber Music – Beethoven’s String Quartets op 127 and op 59/3: Artemis Quartett, Royal Brussels Conservatory at 20:00 (intro at 19:30).  See 14/12 and 15/12.

Friday 17th December

  • Recital – works by Rossini, Bottesini, Torcelli: ‘I bassi virtuosi’ with soloists from La Monnaie, Muntplein, 1000 Brussels at 12:30. Scarce details to be found for this lunchtime concert.
  • French Baroque Music – Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Anacréon and his Pigmalion: Les Arts Florissants with Alain Buet, Sophie Karthäuser, Emmanuelle de Negri, Ed Lyon and Virginie Thomas, BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00 (intro at 19:30).
  • Lieder Recital – Mahler, Wolf, Bach and Webern: with Christine Schäfer (soprano) and Eric Schneider (piano), La Monnaie, Muntplein, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.

Saturday 18th December

  • Choral Music – Six cantatas by Christoph Graupner: ‘Unheard at Christmas’, Ex Tempore, BOZAR, Hall M, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.
  • Clarinet Recital – Lutoslawski’s 5 Dance preludes; Poulenc’s Clarinet Sonata, Debussy’s Rhapsody nr 1; Brahms Hungarian Dances; Martin Fröst’s Vox Saltatoira; Jean Françaix’s Tema con Variazioni; Piazzolla’s Escualo, Oblivion and various Klezmer dances: Martin Fröst (clarinet) and Itamar Golan (piano), Royal Brussels Conservatory, rue de la Regence 30a, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.

Sunday 19th December

  • Trumpet Recital – Martinu’s Sonatine H 357; Ravel’s Deux mélodies hébraïques; Grieg’s Haugtussa, op. 67; Manuel de Falla’s 7 Canciones populares españolas; Piazzolla’s Oblivion (again), Libertango and traditional Norwegian Christmas music: Tine Thing Helseth  (trumpet) and Havard Gimse (piano), BOZARSundays, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 11:00 (10:30 if you want breakfast).
  • Jazz: David Murray Cuban Ensemble plays Nat King Cole Spanish ballads with Omara Portuondo (voice) and strings from deFilharmonie, BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.
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What’s on in Brussels : 6 – 12 December 2010

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Monday 6th December

  • Jazz: Master Sessions, Michael Blass (piano), Bart De Nolf (double bass), Bruno Castelluci (drums), Sounds Jazz Club, rue de la Tulipe 28, 1050 at 22:00.

Tuesday 7th December

  • Piano Recital – Bach’s Partita Nr 2, Brahms’ Fantasien and Schumann’s Humoreske and 4 Klavierstücke: Grigory Sokolov (piano), BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.
  • Jazz: Volant Duo, Adrien Volant (trumpet) and Guilleme Vierset (guitar), Piola Libri Bookshop, rue Franklin at 18:57.  Free.  Young talent.
  • Jazz: European Saxophone Ensemble, Kaaitheater, 20 square Sainctelette, 1000 Brussels at 20:30.  For fans of the saxophone.
  • Jazz: Raf Debacker Trio, Cedric Raymond (bass), Lionel Beuvens (drums), Raphael Debacker (keyboards), Sounds Jazz Club, rue de la Tulipe 28, 1050 at 22:00.

Wednesday 8th December

  • Viola Recital – Schumann’s Märchenbilder; Mozart’s variations on ‘Hélas j’ai perdu mon amant’ and Brahms’ Sonata Op. 120: Nils Mönkemeyer (viola) and William Youn piano), BOZAR Hall M, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 12:40.  Well, Schumann is certainly composer of the week.  Only 6 euros full price – bargain!
  • Orchestral music – Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé Suite Nr 2; Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Bartholomée’s Symphony: Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège Wallonie Bruxelles, BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  The orchestra’s last three conductors celebrate 50 years of Liège’s Symphony Orchestra.
  • Jazz: Stijn Cools (drums) and Lander Gyselinck (drums) with Marco Bardoscia and Nathan Wouters (bass), Benjamin Sauzereau (guitar) and Thibault Dille (accordion), VUB Kultuur café, Pleinln. 2, 1050 Elsene at12:30.  Free.
  • Jazz: Collapse, Jean-Paul Estiévenart (trumpet), Cédric Favresse (sax), Yannick Peeters (bass), Alain Deval (drums), Jazz Station, Chaussée de Louvain 193, 1210 Saint Josse at 20:30.

Thursday 9th December

  • Baroque music – Lots of Purcell song’s:  Ensemble Artaserse with Andreas Scholl (countertenor) and Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00 (introduction at 19:30).
  • Orchestral music – Haydn’s Symphony Nr 85; Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 491 and Beethoven’s Symphony Nr 3: Symfonieorkest Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel with Hannes Minnaar (piano), Royal Brussels Conservatory, Rue de la Regence 30a, 1000 Brussels at 20:00 (intro at 19:30).  A good solid classical programme.
  • Jazz: The Bundle, Vincent Bruyninckx (piano), Bart Denolf (bass), Paolo Loveri (guitar), Aldo Martinic (synths), Stéphane Mercier (sax), Jean-Paul Estiévenart (trumpet), Gille Repond (trombone), Natacha Wuyts and Catherine Castellucci (voice) and Bruno Castellucci (drums), Jazz Station, Leuvensesteenweg, 193, 1210 Sint Joost at 20:00.
  • Jazz: Pascal Mohy Trio, Pascal Mohy (piano), Sal la Rocca (bass), Joost Van Schaik (percussions), The Music Village, Steenstraat 50, 1000 Brussel at 20:30.  Groove, swing and pulses.
  • Jazz: Franck Ansallem Trio, Sylvain Romano (bass), Dre’ Pallemaerts (drums), Franck Ansallem (piano), Sounds Jazz Club, rue de la Tulipe 28, 1050 at 22:00.

Friday 10th December

  • Chamber music – Schumann’s Cello Concerto arranged for 4 cellists; Jongen’s Deux Pièces: Soloists from La Monnaie, De Munt, Place de la Monnaie, 1000 Brussels at 12:30.
  • Orchestral music – Myaskovsky’s Salutation Overture; Schnittke’s Piano Concerto and Shostakovich’s Symphony Nr 5: National Orchestra of Belgium with Alexander Ghindin (piano), BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00 (introduction at 19:30).  Worth going to just for the Shostakovich – a magnificent, powerful work.
  • Jazz: Manuel Hermia Trio, Manuel Hermia (sax) Manolo Cabras (bass) and Joao Lobo (drums and percussion), Art Base, rue des Sables 29, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.
  • Jazz: Stacey Kent (voice), Jim Tomlinson (sax), Graham Harvey (piano), David Chamberlain (bass) and Matt Skelton (drums), Flagey, Studio 4, Heilig Kruisplein, 1050 Ixelles at 20:15.  It’s flagged as sold out, so returns only, I suppose.
  • Jazz: Dusko Gojkovic (trumpet), Phil Abraham (trombone), Ron Van Rossum (piano), Christophe Devisscher (bass), Luc Vanden Bosch (drums), The Music Village, Steenstraat 50, 1000 Brussel at 21:00.
  • Jazz: Line Up, Nicola Lancerotti (double bass), Augusto Pirodda (piano), Daniele Martini (sax), Antonio Pisano (drums), Sounds Jazz Club, rue de la Tulipe 28, 1050 Ixelles at 22:00.
Saturday 11th December
  • Jazz: Stéphane Mercier Quartet, Stéphane Mercier (sax, flute), Charles Loos (piano), Bas Coijmans (bass) and Toon Van Dionant (drums), Jazz Station, Leuvensesteenweg 193, 1210 Saint Josse at 18:00.
  • Chamber music – Schubert’s String Quartet Nr 10; Barber’s String Quartet and Mozart’s Quintet for strings and clarinet: Tokyo String Quartet with Sabine Meyer (clarinet), Royal Brussels Conservatory, rue de la Regence, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.

Sunday 12th December

  • Violin Recital – Grieg’s Violin Sonata; Lutoslawski’s Subito; Prokofiev’s Violin Sonata and Ravel’s Tzigane: Alexandra Soumm (violin) and Aimo Pagin (piano), BOZARSundays, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 11:00.  A very nice way to start a Sunday.  11 euros with breakfast, or 8 euros without.
  • Orchestral music – Myaskovsky’s Salutation Overture; Schnittke’s Piano Concerto and Shostakovich’s Symphony Nr 5: National Orchestra of Belgium with Alexander Ghindin (piano): BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 15:00 (intro at 14:30).  A repeat of Friday’s concert.
  • Orchestral music – Mendelssohn’s Oratorio Elijah: Brussels Philharmonic – het Vlaams Radio Orkest, Chœur du Lemmensinstituut, Soloists from the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  Conductor Richard Egarr is a musical genius.  Get to this if you can.
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What’s On in Brussels : 29 Nov – 5 Dec 2010

Monday, November 29, 2010

Monday 29th November

  • Jazz: Bugge Wesseltoft (piano), BOZAR, Hall M, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  Adventurous jazz using acoustic and electric piano with synthesizers, samples and electronic stuff.
  • Jazz: Master Session with Eric Vermeulen (piano), Mimi Verderame (drums) and Sal La Rocco (bass),  Sounds Jazz Club, rue de la Tulipe 28, 1050 at 22:00.

Tuesday 30th November

  • Jazz: ’25th Anniversary Night’ with Toots Thielemans, Philip Catherine & Jacky Terrasson, Lady Linn and the Belgium Jazz Big Band, BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  Speaks for itself?
  • Jazz/Classical: Philippe Tasquin Sextet, La Samaritaine, rue de la Samaritaine 16, 1000 Brussels at 20:30.  Philippe Tasquin (composer, piano, violin, voice)  leads a classical string sextet through his own works.  Genre-inclusive and experimental.  Runs from 30/11 until 11/12.
  • Jazz: Crawlin’ Kingsnakes, Akis Meimardis (voice), Dimitri Giotakos (keyboards), Stama Roditis (guitar), Loos (bass) and Malcolm  Parry (harmonica, guitar and voice), The Music Village, rue des Pierres 50, 1000 Brussels at 20:30.  Rhythm and Blues.
  • Jazz: Raf Debacker Trio with Cedric Raymond (bass), Lionel Beuvens (drums) and Raphael Debacker (keyboards).  Sounds Jazz Club, Tulpstraat 28, 1050 Elsene at 22:00.

Wednesday 1st December

  • Baroque Ensemble Music – John Dowland, Thomas Morley and Giovanni Coprario: A Heavenly Noyce, Ricercar Consort, Royal Brussels Conservatory, rue de la Regence, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  Works linking Elizabethan theatre and music.  Will be lovely, despite lack of a singer…  Intro at 19:30.
  • Jazz: Maracujazz with Anne Wolf (piano), Magda Mendes (voice), Theo de Jong (bass) and Janco van der Kaaden (percussion), Jazz Station, Chaussée de Louvain 193, 1020 Saint Josse at 20:30.  Based on Brazilian rhythms.

Thursday 2nd December

  • Classical Chamber Music – Mozart’s Divertimento K 227, Seiber’s Serenade and Beethoven’s Sextet Op. 71: Soloists from the National Orchestra of Belgium, BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 12:30.  Wind sextet.
  • Harpsichord Recital – Bach’s Partita Nr 6, Handel’s Suite Nr 7, Forqueray’s Suite Nr 1 and Duphly’s Pièces de clavecin: Jos van Immerseel, Protestant Chapel at 20:00.
  • Contemporary Music – Bruhin, Davies, Tazartès and Patterson: Alga Marghen Label Night #1, BOZAR, Hall M, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at  20:00.  Music as modern art, experimental 20ieth century composers from the Fluxus movement.  Very reasonably priced.
  • Jazz: Jazz Station Big Band, Jazz Station, Leuvensesteenweg 193, 1020 Sint Joost at 20:00.  Every first Thursday of the month, the Jazz Station sets up its Big Band…
  • Jazz: Music Soup Jazz Quartet, with Evgenia Karlafti (piano, voice), Nestor Dimopoulos (guitar), Sal La Rocca (bass) and John Floros (drums), Art Base, rue des Sables 29, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  Jazz standards, Blues and Latin.
  • Jazz: Stéphane Salkin Trio, Stéphane Salkin (guitar and voice), Eric Fusillier (bass) and Thierry Gutmann (drums),  The Music Village, rue des Pierres 50, 1000 Brussels at 20:30.  Free, but not extreme.

Friday 3rd December

  • Orchestral Music – Prokofiev’s Symphony Nr 5, Luc Van Hove’s Piano Concerto (world première) and Ligeti’s Lontano: deFilharmonie with Levente Kende (piano), BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  20ieth/21st century orchestral music – best experienced live.  Intro at 19:30.
  • Jazz: Fresh Waves Trio,  Renaud Crols (violin), Renaud Dardenne (guitar) and Cedric Raymond (bass), Art Base, rue des Sable 29, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  Jazz standards and swing jazz.
  • Romantic English/German Choir Music – Elgar, Parry, Stanford and Mahler: Sweet Music, Vlaams Radio Koor, Flagey, Studio 4 at 20:15.  I used to sing this stuff all the time!  I’m curious to hear the Flemish interpretation…
  • Jazz: Eric Person and Meta-Four, Eric Person (sax), Chris Joris (percussion), Free Desmyter (piano), Nic Thys (bass) and Marek Paterman (drums), The Music Village, rue des Pierres 50, 1000 Brussels at 21:00.

Saturday 4th December

  • Chamber Music – Schubert’s Sonatensatz for piano, Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio Nr 1 and Piazzolla’s Tangos: Carlo Van Neste Trio, Royal Brussels Conservatory, rue de la Regence, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.
  • Jazz: Herbie Hancock “The Imagine Project”, BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  His new album presented live by Hancock.
  • Jazz: Afrodisax with Marc Mangen (composer, piano) and friends, Jazz Station, Leuvensesteenweg 193, 1020 Sint Joost at 18:00.  Acoustic jazz.
  • Jewish Music: Altland Ensemble, Stéphanie Weisser (violin), Benoît Goovaerts (bassoon), Nedzad Cengic (accordion), Daniel Rabinovitsj (percussion) and Gilles Sadowski (clarinet), Art Base, rue des Sables 29, 1000 Brussels at 20:00.  All kinds of traditional Jewish music.
  • Jazz: Deborah Carter and The New Look Trio, The American Songbook, with Deborah Carter (voice), Johan Clement (piano) and Luc Vanden Bosch (drums).  The Music Village, rue des Pierres 50, 1000 Brussels at 21:00.  A pleasure to hear a female jazzsinger with a well-grounded voice with oomph.
  • Jazz: Andreu Martinez Project, Andreu Martinez (guitar), Jordi Franco (bass) and Pere Foved (drums).  Sounds Jazz Club, rue de la Tulipe 28, 1050 Elsene at 22:00.  Presentation of Martinez’ new CD ‘Colors’.

Sunday 5th December

  • Orchestral Music – Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique and his Lélio, ou la Retour à la Vie (dramatic monogramme): Orchestre National de Lille and the Choeur Régional Nord-Pas-de-Calais with Julien Behr (tenor), Stephen Salters (baritone) and Daniel Meguisch (narrator), BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels at 15:00.  The wet Sunday afternoon concert.
  • Jazz: Electro-acoustic harp with Maria-Christina, Art Base, rue des Sables 29, 1000 Brussels at 18:00.  A harp, plugged in and playing jazz, influenced by Greek traditional music.  Unusual.
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