CHARLES FOSTER on 12th June.
Foster shares what he learnt after choosing to live like a badger and a fox, amongst other woodland creatures, for periods of time. Eating what they eat, sleeping where they sleep, in an effort he tells us, not to feel so alone in the world.
I liked Mackor De Muynck with their show Sfessania, Dancing to Madness. Inspired by the series of 17th century prints, Balli de Sfessania by Jacques Callot, it explores the magical powers of the tarantella.
Overall this was an excellent, jam-packed Festival spread over twelve exciting days with more than fifty acts performing in diverse locations ranging from proper theatres to garden sheds, from cafés to old factories. We clearly were not able to see all the shows and, as this is an English publication, we concentrated on shows that were LNP – Language No Problem . . .
No amount of light can distract the viewer from the somber undertones of these symbolic structures marked by an absence of safety, both in physicality, as well as an inherent emotional instability.
The all-too-short concert consisted of a number of short pieces by Czech composer Léos Janáček. They were played with great sensitivity and delicacy by the four young musicians. I was impressed. . . . They were joined, lurking in the shadows, by artist Jordi Cárdenas who provided the visual aspects with what we would have called a light show.
The first edition of the North Sea Jazz Festival took place in 1976 in the Nederlands Congresgebouw in The Hague. Some numbers in those early days: six venues, three hundred artists and about nine thousand visitors. In this very first festival year internationally renowned jazz legends
As we entered the darkened room we could just make out the two performers, dressed in white, lying on a white plastic sheet arranged diagonally across the stage as the hypnotic soundscape pounded out its mesmerising beat.
Although for all the performers Façade is a difficult piece and requires great virtuosity, the six musicians played brilliantly and really seemed to be enjoying themselves.
