The Haydn Youth String Orchestra gave a concert on Saturday for the first time in months. According to orchestra manager Anna de Vries, it was a great success.
Hi Anna! How did it go?
“It was great fun. We had set up a bet beforehand on how many people would watch it. I had bet quite high, but that 170 people watched live and that the stream has already been viewed more than 1,200 times, we would not have dreamed. At the moment the concert can still be viewed on YouTube. ”
I also spoke to you in March. Then you indicated that the corona crisis has not left HJSO in the cold clothes. How are you now?
“In the conversation then it was about the Christmas concert that could not take place due to the strict measures. In the end we had to decide to cancel our spring concert as well. Fortunately, after that, relaxations for youth associations came quickly. Because of these relaxation we were given room to rehearse again, which we were able to coordinate in consultation with the municipality of Groningen. We had our first rehearsal at the end of March and then we got in no-time put together a concert. ”
A concert that should be seen as a foretaste, right?
“That’s right. We hope to be able to give our summer concerts to the public again this summer. These were initially planned for the month of June, but we have now moved them to 3 and 7 July. We hope that we will then be able to play in front of a physical audience in the Nieuwe Kerk. What we showed yesterday is a foretaste of the repertoire that we want to perform. The concert yesterday started with a performance by the HVSO, our musicians aged 10 to 14 years. Then came the HJSO, which consists of somewhat older children between the ages of 14 and 19. ”
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It was extra exciting for Yasminder Rozeboom on Saturday, she was one of the soloists. Photo: Jan & Philip Pruim
I think it was extra exciting for two soloists, Yasminder Rozeboom and Joost de Boer?
“Absolutely. This season we have actually been able to do very little. In September we stood on the roof of Forum Groningen for the Grunnens Laid to play. So the experience of being on stage every week is not there. It is exciting for an orchestra to perform again, and especially for soloists. But it went very well. Although of course it was a slightly different experience. They now performed on camera. That is different from when there is an audience in the room. Incidentally, in this way also compliments to the people of technology in the Lutheran Church. They really portrayed it perfectly. ”
So hopefully concerts with an audience in July. Will streaming also remain a part?
“That is the intention. We did the same last summer. Then we could give concerts with an audience, but we had to deal with a maximum number of visitors. Given the positive streaming experiences, we are considering continuing to do so. It may also be a perfect alternative for some people. If you have difficulty walking or have other health problems, you can still be there this way. I incidentally dropped the dates July 3 and 7. I would like to advise everyone to keep a close eye on our agenda to keep. As you may know yourself, things change quite often with regard to the measures to keep the corona virus under control. ”
Watch the concert of the HVSO and the HJSO from Saturday below
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