A curious marriage
Thursday 25 June 2009
As part of the Holland Festival together with Antony and the Johnsons the Metropole Orchestra gave concerts on 21 and 22 June in Carré. Both concerts were sold out in a very short time.
Some quotations from the press.
‘The question was whether that fragile voice would stand up to the many string instruments in the Metropole Orchestra which was accompanying Antony. At first the combination did not seem to work. There were even indignant calls from the audience that Antony could not be heard. Lateron singer and orchestra (including three members of The Johnsons) became one.’
Peter van Brummelen in het Parool, 22 June 2009
‘The marriage arranged here as part of the Holland Festival was curious and not successful straight away. This was not due to the orchestra…. ….’
[‘Antony] extensively wiped tears from his eyes after paying a compliment to the amazingly talented’ orchestra.’
Esther Carvalho in NRC, 22 June 2009
‘All doubts about the added value of the dozens of extra musicians on the stage disappeared after a few songs ….’
‘… older and newer repertoire was played so surprisingly and not seldom brilliantly that the call for more became a plea after one and a half hours.’
‘Antony was as enthusiastic as the audience itself. To show his gratitude he went down on his knees and thus thanked the orchestra for an unprecedented beautiful achievement.’
Gijsbert Kramer in de Volkkrant, 23 June 2009