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Renaissance Festival Review
Wonderful Music
It might be stating the obvious but there are a number of people in Rethymnon who really do care about quality music. And, what is even better, some of these people care so much that they put a great deal of effort into making sure we get to hear some of the finest performers around. Before we start on our review we’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Artemis and the rest of the crew for everything they did to keep this particular show on the road in what must have been rather difficult circumstances.
After last year’s line up which included some of the more universally acknowledged superstars of early music this year’s music programme had a tough act to follow. And then we had the crisis, the volcano and the strikes. Despite all that, though, the week of music we were provided with was absolutely stunning and the 2010 Festival brought with it a couple of great new twists. Throughout the week we learnt so much and enjoyed so many different types of performances from some of the finer musicians in Europe. And as an added bonus, every evening before each concert our compère Alexis Kostalas gave us some sensitively thought out background notes.
Fun, Fun Fun!
One of the running themes in this year’s festival was that we should all be able to enjoy ourselves, relax and have a bit of fun. ‘Stating the obvious yet again’ some of you might say, but no, we don’t think so. In some towns in Northern Europe (currently remaining nameless) going to a classical concert sometimes seems more like an endurance test than having a good night out. A few things spring to mind: Doing the little social dance of admiring each others fancy dresses outside the concert hall queue, trying to look knowledgeable while being told that so-and-so’s version of the aria seen last week at La Scala was just marvellous, ‘darling’ and being made to sit on really uncomfortable seats at the Sheldonian Theatre but still having to stand up for the sheep bit in Handel’s Messiah are some unpleasantly salient moments in the editor’s life. NOT SO HERE IN RETHYMNON!!!! An absolutely lovely atmosphere. And we heard some very grown up music too.
Our week started with a beautiful performance by the Romeo and Juliet Choir from Stockholm, who managed to combine Monteverdi with some great Medieval slapstick comedy. Later on in the week we heard a fine rendition of Handel’s Allessandro - Greek Premiere by the Megaron Orchestra / Camerata of the Friends of Music. Then the Belgian stars ‘Il Fondamento’ gave us what they rightly labelled a ‘Baroque Jewel Box’ (now that was good!) and we had the Salzburg Mozart Quartet doing their thing up at the Fortezza too. But this was not all. Or as my dear friend Boris would say, ‘and then….’
Fuoco e Cenere: Beauty, Passion and Humour
If ever you have had a rough day, we would suggest that the members of the Parisian based ensemble Fuoco e Cenere are people that you might want to spend some time with. And if you can persuade them to play some music for you this is probably going to help you out in a big way. Good people, good music.
Fuoco e Cenere gave two completely different sets here during the festival. The first concert they performed - ‘Canta Napoli’ really pushed several buttons on the romantic front. Jay and Patricia as a viola da gamba / recorder duo are a heartbreakingly beautiful combination. And as for the tenor soloist Mathieu Abelli - oh boy! This is the dialogue that took place outside the mosque (after Mathieu had been singing) from one woman to another who didn’t know each other terribly well: Question - “How are you feeling?” Answer - “Much better now, and you know what I mean!!!!” He hit the spot big time. The following night we were given a lovely funky Pulcinella show with puppet master Bruno Leone based on the sacred music of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. The wonderful soprano voice of Daphné Touchais was more than a match for Pulcinella’s antics. The children in the audience were giggling like crazy (but they also loved the music, too). Absolutely fantastic!
Better Publicity in 2011 Perhaps?
I really don’t want to pour rain on this marvellous parade but…. Next year PLEASE COULD WE HAVE THE PROGRAMMES READY AHEAD OF TIME?! BEARING IN MIND WE ARE INVITING SOME OF THE FINEST MUSICIANS ON THIS PLANET TO COME AND PERFORM HERE. ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΏ!
