Minimes Brussels

[DouglasCorr]

Recently, on a business trip to Brussels, I saw a notice advertising an organ recital (including a soprano) in the Church of SS-Jean et Etienne aux Minimes.

 

I arrived, somewhat tired, at a massively built, depressing and rather run down church. The organ, on a west end gallery, consisted of a central portion in a gloomy brown wood case, but on either side their were shining pedal towers enclosed in perspex! There was a positive division also enclosed in perspex.

 

No one was around so I waited outside. A few minutes before the advertised start two people arrived who looked as though they might sell the tickets. But only two other people arrived.

 

As well as being tired, I felt uncomfortable about being in such a tiny audience and walked back to my hotel. I also wondered whether the lack of interest said something about the organ?

 

Does anyone know if the organ was worth listening to?

 

Would others find it uncomfortable to be in a tiny audience?

[Vox Humana]

How soul-destroying for the performers. I'd have felt honour-bound to stay, if only out of sympathy.

[pcnd5584]

It does seem a shame that there were apparently so few people there. I am aware that the French generally have a relaxed attitude towards attending concerts (and the time at which they choose to arrive) - but this is incredible.

 

Perhaps the organ and soloist were known to be of uneven performance - or perhaps it was just a bad night.

 

I can sympathise, though. If I were tired and faced with the prospect of becoming 33.3% of an audience for an organ recital in which the main attraction was partly encased in perspex, I too would have beaten a hasty retreat to my hotel room and whiled away a relaxing evening using all the male-oriented toiletries provided in a refreshing bath - and followed up (by way of an encore) by working my way steadily through the contents of the mini-bar.

 

Of course, it would be necessary to be somewhat disingenuous the next morning when confronted by a bill for €134.50. Probably something along the lines of: "Mini-bar? No - that was empty when I looked...."

[Pierre Lauwers]

"Does anyone know if the organ was worth listening to?"

(Quote)

 

WELL.....

 

Ahem, ahem!

How to express that.....Mmmmmmmh, let us say this thing might

not be one of the first I would present you in Belgium; we may

possibly have some slightly more interesting organs.

 

Pierre

[Pierre Lauwers]

Here is something interesting in Brussels:

 

http://www.orgues-thomas.com/FR/references/finistere.html

[DouglasCorr]

Here is something interesting in Brussels:

 

http://www.orgues-thomas.com/FR/references/finistere.html

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Ah yes! And no perspex!!

 

Thanks for Minimes comments.