On Friday 9 March the renowned Scholtes & Janssens piano duo made their debut in the Dutch Carribean. They gave a swirling performance for a full house at the Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire.
Lestari Scholtes and Gwylim Janssens played four handedly on the Piano Grandi and presented a very varied programme.
Ravel ́s “Bolero” was an inciting start of the evening and was followed by Mendelssohn six “Lieder ohne Worte”, a piece from the romanticism era.
The swirling first act of “Petroesjka” by Stravinsky and the introduction to the piece by pianist Lestari Scholtes left the audience curious to discover the other acts of the composition. Mussorgsky ́s “Pictures at an exhibition” was introduced by Gwylim Janssens, and this made the music even more lively and pictorial. Later on this year Scholtes & Janssens will release their new CD with a recording of this piece.
After a well deserved and lengthy applause, the duo performed their encore and treated the public to a composition by the Antillean poet musician Joseph Sickman Corsen. The piece was selected by the piano duo specifically for this concert on Bonaire and tied perfectly to the atmosphere of the evening: bustling and invigorating, a festive closure of an exceptional concert.
The pianists passion sparkles off the stage and the natural way they share and play the piano keys is magic. Their enchanting sound, the intense and energetic performance of the two pianists who are perfectly attuned, made it a very special evening.
Apart from the evening concert, Scholtes & Janssens have facilitated a concert for Bonairian school children. The piano duo performed Mussorgsky ́s “Pictures at an exhibition”, and their extensive explanatory comments made the music accessible and pictorial. It was an interactive session which was appreciated by the enthusiastic school children, thus making the concert amusing and fun in addition to being instructive.
For more information on Lestari Scholtes & Gwylim Janssens: http://www.scholtesjanssens.com
The Classical Music Board Bonaire strives to bring European classical music to the attention of a broad audience and to bring Antillean classical music to the attention of the population of Bonaire.
Please look out for announcements of upcoming concerts!