That a celebratory concert with real instruments is a good way to spend the last evening of the year was proved by the great popularity of the traditional New Year’s concert on Saturday evening in the Lohr Sankt Michael parish church. About 250 listeners came to hear the beautiful music and just fell apart.
Since 1989, Dean’s cantor Alfons Meusert (organ) has invited two trumpets on New Year’s Eve to play with him and to end the old year in celebration. After about ten years, trumpeter Dominik Ring (Alte Oper, Frankfurt) is already part of the “inventory”. But Marina Fixle from the Staatstheater Darmstadt also attended the party for the third time this year.
However, the concert has been a victim of the corona pandemic for the past two years. The Sandtner organ and the two trumpets sounded even more beautiful and radiant.
Furious ending
The three musicians limited themselves in their program to the Baroque period. They had chosen famous and eye-catching works for this job. The Allegro from the “Concerto in D major” by Francesco Manfredini (1680-1748) for two trumpets and organ sounded joyful and festive at the beginning. A solemn and atmospheric “Lento” followed, before the third movement (“Allegro”) provided a furious and glamorous conclusion.
Naturally, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) could not miss such a concert. Alfons Meusert paid tribute to this with three organ concerts. Either way, Meusert has done a mammoth job on the beautiful Sandtner organ. He not only played his solo pieces, but also accompanied the two piccolo trumpets with feeling and skill.
Bach and Baranti
Marina Fixle also chose Bach (“Sonata in E flat major BWV 1031”). With its smooth and harmonious tone, it has provided a sound experience with this beautiful selection.
Dominik Ring turned to Francesco Barsanti (1690-1772). He also gave the audience unforgettable sound moments. No wonder that after a good hour and a furious conclusion (“Concerto in C major” in three movements by Antonio Vivaldi) the audience applauded long and enthusiastically and got a glamorous and festive little encore.
“I am delighted that the concert was received so well today too. Because you don’t know where people are headed after so long,” was Meusert’s satisfied conclusion in a personal conversation after the concert.
