Photographs
by Mattias de Smet, Danielle Kempen and Patrice Gruben
The stage
(P.G.)
(D. K.)
"La
festa"
( MdS)
(D
K)
(MdS)
(MdS)
Davide (P.G.)
(D
K)
(D
K)
(D K)
(MdS)
(MdS)
(D
K)
(MdS)
"Cari amici,
We have just returned from our concert in
Ostenda (yesterday) and I am so full of the miracle, I have to tell you
immediately. It was the best concert ever!
Yesterday morning we were preparing for our
330 km drive to the coast in Belgium, we were very worried about the very bad
weather expectations, we checked the tv, and it was getting worse every
minute, a huge storm and a lot of rain in Holland and Belgium. Would there be
a concert that evening?
I phoned a contact in the hotel, but she had not heard about a cancellation,
so we took the chance and we went out into the storm. A difficult drive,
sidewinds, rain and we were feeling a bit stressed out.
In the hotel we heard the best news: the
outside concert would be held INSIDE THE CHURCH! This was a perfect solution
and the perfect setting! We went to have a look inside the church, and
many people were very busy installing lights, sound, instruments etc. Davide
was already there, he was trying out his drums, and the sound was great.
Angelo had not yet arrived, he would come by train, but nobody knew (or would
not tell) what time. At 17.00 people came in for Sunday Mass, and by then
everything had been installed. We left the church for a meal and returned at
19.00, hoping to hear the soundcheck, but by then a security team was in front
of the church and we were not allowed in. We had to wait until 21.00. By then
more fans had gathered, and this gave a good feeling of being a big happy
family waiting for the great event. There was a real storm blowing, and it was
raining, but that side of the church it was not so bad. We could hear the
music and Angelo singing through the door. An hour later we were allowed to
come a small way into the church, out of the rain, and there we could hear and
see Angelo working, to make everything perfect. When finally we were allowed
to go into the church, we quickly went to the front seats, 3 rows reserved,
but we had very good seats. I have never seen a church filling up so quickly,
the priestmust have felt jealous!
At 21.15 the concert started. A ladies
voice reciting Cantico delle Creature, in Flemish (fiammingo), Davide softly
playing the drums until Angelo started singing. The programm was the same as
in Assisi, with only the difference that "Letizia" was before the
"Morte", which is more logical.
Angelo spoke in perfect English and
explained what the concert and the project was all about. He was very happy to
be inside the church, the right place for this concert. He was relaxed,
cheerful, his voice was strong and everything sounded really fantastic. Angelo
was the star, the maestro, but for me also Davide was the second star. He was
not only playing virtuoso his own drum set, but also the timpani, a gong and
many other kind of drums, running from one side to another and never missing
and smiling as if he was really enjoying it.
I can tell you, the sound from all these
percussion instruments sounded unbelievable in the church with echo's coming
from everywhere. The "Sultano", "Poverelle",
"Regola" and "Letizia" were for me the absolute highlights
of the concert. Angelo played the clown, like he loves to do, sounding the
cymbals over and over again.
When he finished Letizia there was no time
for applause, he immediately went on with "La Morte", playing the
pan flute. Again I was very impressed by this.
After the Infinitamente piccolo it was time
for the classics, everybody clapped and the crowd got really enthousiastic,
this was the music they all knew! We were treated to a small extra miracle,
just before the new classic I Santi, Angelo sat down, with just his guitar and
sang in a beautiful setting La Sposa Rubato from the Pulce d'Acqua album, it
was so wonderful. Maybe he did this specially for Matthias, who some years
ago, together with other guitar students, gave a musical performance of the
song. He sent the recording of this to Agelo. After the fireworks of I
Santi the concert definitely ended.
We had all enjoyed this concert in a great
way, the lights shining on the inside of the church, the acoustics, the echo's,
the fun, the musicians enjoying themselves and last but not least: being able
to sit in the church, dry and out of the wind.
Just imagine that we had stayed at home, we
would have missed out on the best concert of our life!
People going to Lucca and other places, I
am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did. Don't stay at home,
GO GO GO! "
Patrice
Hi, I shot some pictures with a tele-lens. I needed it
because I was at the
tenth row I suppose. During the concert I was able to walk around a bit, but
never I could get REAL close, So the telelens should have done a great job.
The first 10 pictures should be ready next week or so, the others are on a
new role which isn't finished yet. They will be for later.
Mattias
Ok Patrice, some hints..:)
Patrice mi ha chiesto di rendere in
italiano, almeno nei punti essenziali, questa sua mail, ci provo.
Patrice asked me to translate in the main
points , her mail.
"Cari amici
Siamo appena tornati dal concerto di
Ostenda e sono ancora immersa nel "miracolo" . E' stato il miglior
concerto che abbia mai visto.
Ieri mattina eravamo pronti per il nostro
viaggio di 330 KM verso la costa belga ed eravamo molto preoccupati per le
previsioni del tempo che davano forti temporali e il concerto era a rischio ed
in effetti la traversata è stata piena di pioggia e vento, Ma in albergo
abbiamo avuto la bella notizia che il concerto comunque si sarebbe fatto,
all'interno della chiesa. La soluzione era perfetta!
Siamo entrati dentro dove c'erano le sedie
e i tecnici che montavano le luci.
Davide stava provando la sua
batteria..Siamo ritornati piu tardi, dopo avere mangiato qualcosa e si
sentivano i musicisti provare e lo stesso Angelo che cantava e controllava che
stesse tutto a posto.
Il concerto è iniziato alle 21,15 circa,
una voce femminile recitava in fiammingo il Cantico. la scaletta era la stessa
di quella di Assisi, ad eccezione di "Letizia.." che è venuta,
com'era più logico, prima de " La morte di Francesco".
Angelo, in perfetto inglese, ha spiegato i
motivi di questo lavoro, inoltre era assai contento di suonare in chiesa,
luogo ritenuto da lui piu' adatto.Comunque mi hanno colpito molto la batteria
e le percussioni di Davide Regazzoni.
Alla fine Angelo ha riproposto i classici e
il pubblico, che conosceva molto bene i motivi, hanno dimostrato tutto il loro
entusiasmo, il concerto si è chiuso con " I Santi". Insomma è
stato davvero un bel concerto, tutto perfetto, dall'acustica all'atmosfera
della chiesa, davvero avremmo perso il miglior concerto della nostra vita se
rinunciavamo a quel viaggio."
