Nynke

Last night it was time for a different kind of music again, Nynke Laverman appeared at the Concertgebouw. A different venue, not some big smoky hall with people standing around talking and holding a beer in their hands, but a sophisticated hall with some 1200 people sitting down very nicely. Audience behaviour wasn't quite as bad, though I still ended up among peopl who insisted on talking even while Nynke was singing, and who were checking their phones every once in a while. I really don't get that. But no smoking, at least, and a very comfortable seat.

I've seen Nynke a few times before. I first saw her when she played "Sielesalt", Salt of the Soul, a few years ago. I'm not sure why I went then, I'd heard about this singer singing Portuguese fado's in Frysian so when I read she would be appearing in Amsterdam I decided to go. The lyrics were actually translations of poems by a poet I admire called Slauerhoff, a poet of the sea, the poet of longing, put to music by Custódio Castelo, originally for Cristina Branco. The songs were put together by Nynke to create a very moving fairy tale. After Sielesalt she made "Maisfrou", Latin American music telling another story, creating another atmosphere.

Last night she didn't play either piece, but she gave a concert, singing songs from both and some other songs. I guess this gave her more room to play and she seemed to be enjoying herself. It's a wonderful place to perform in, I guess, with a great atmosphere and great history. I once saw Ravi Shankar play there, and later Cristina Branco. Nynke seemed to feel at home here, and she gave a good and varied concert.

The Concertgebouw is a little unusual because some of the seats are up on the stage, and that is where I was. You look into the audience and see the performer from the back for some of the time. I quite enjoyed sitting there though, I liked the perspective.