Aperitif Concert following the Wintervonken light-fest

More splendid free outdoor entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings on the Burg with the annual fire-fest, Wintervonken. Last year’s I saw quite by chance and was bowled over with what was effectively an airborne, tree-top level outdoor cycling circus! I loved it and hastened along last Saturday evening to sample the latest show. It was indeed special though without the heart-stopping extravagance of last year’s show.. It involved a spectacular cavalcade of lights across the facade of the 14^th century Stadhuis. But that doesn’t begin to describe the sinuous shapes and patterns which chased each other across the mediaeval brick-scape provided. Many swirling, curving serpentine lines of light involved in a continuous interplay with following lights which swept and

swooped. It was a fascinating, monumental kaleidoscope which eventually gave way to an impressive procession of moving light-shapes which became, momentarily, fantastic monsters, fluid animals, goblins, warriors. Astonishing that somehow, the large, blue-lit box high in the sky on top of a giant cherry picker could somehow be programmed or controlled to produce the phantasmagoria on the face of the stately Town Hall. Astonishing. The large standing audience seemed enchanted particularly the family groups with children transfixed by the intriguing spectacle. Great applause at the end for Vincent Glowinski and his assistants who had staged the ‘Human Brush’ display so brilliantly.

Brilliant fire-cauldrons, Art Nouveau in

design, clustered under the trees on the Burg.

On the area of the Burg below the trees, near the statue, Les Amoureux, was a splendid winter terrace courtesy of the Fire Masters. Lots of benches grouped around points of fire; some like bonfires on the ground; others contained in large almost stained glass dishes suspended in the air. Despite the winter cold, the terrace was warm and inviting with convivial groups, including lots of families, drinking and chatting and fire-gazing. A group nearby was tuning up in preparation for a concert later.

A youthful Sam de Troyer

And to make a Burg-centred perfect weekend, the next morning came the third Negen Muzen Aperitiefconcerts in the current season, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, and one celebrating the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the Negen Muzen. There are four annual concerts between October and February with a wide variety of musical talent and content, but the 'En Route' offering on Sunday was particularly  special. Jacques Vandervelde, not only a well-known harpist par excellence but a composer and harp-maker too, performed with Sam De Troyer, a fluid guitar player. Sam is fascinated by the tango, Flamenco and South American music while Jacques is in love with the music of Paraguay and Venezuela where the harp is the national instrument. Through the harp music, he has become engrossed with the national cultures of which the harp is such an important element. So the Sunday programme went with a swing and a pronounced Latin American accent. The final Instant Improvisations by the two musicians was especially enchanting.

Jacques Vandevelde

POST SCRIPT

Memo to self: Stop banging on about Brexit!!

Last night, much self-important activity in the Houses of Parliament with seven Brexit amendments to be voted on and the only one which managed a clear majority [though several came near] was the one about the Irish back stop. The P..M. was instructed to go back to dear Michel Barnier to ask for a different solution to the impasse with the Irish Border. In fact, it is the one thing which the E.U. has reiterated many times that the present arrangement will not change. In other words, in spite of a majority of the House being unwilling to countenance a 'No Deal' Brexit, the only majority was for a course of action designed to bring a no deal nearer. The Theresa-in-Wonderland scenario defies belief and is unbelievably embarrassing for/to Brits living in Europe. Let alone those living in Britain. Memo to Theresa: stop putting all your energy into trying to achieve the impossible; uniting the Conservative Party on Europe. It is irredeemiably split.