NOTP Fanpage

Archive for October, 2009

27th of October

In our review of the premiere on the 23th of October we concluded that overall the show was good but we complained about the problems regarding the sound. During the rehearsals, Jan reported the sound to be good, but since there is a difference between the sound in an empty and a full arena… The problem is solved now and the quality of the sound became much better. That is good news.

During the weekend, Marie of Roxette got an infection of her throat which caused her voice to be less on the show of last Saturday. Immediatly she was put on medication. On Sunday she sang a lot better and her voice will be back to full strenght from Wednesday on. Also good news.

The running order of the premiere is still applied; the proof that the show was well prepared and jugded by the organization so that no adaption had to be made. Again, good news.

Question of the release for a CD of the Antwerp and The Netherlands edition was not denied by Jan. He wrote:”PERHAPS…”. Wouldn’t that be good news?

For the Charleroi 2010 edition there no artists booked yet.


Our review of the premiere is available through this link (when you still want to be surprised, it’s better not to read it yet). And the photo gallery is made available here (Thanks to Bart Henseler for the wonderful photo’s).

Counting down towards the premiere was done here.

Reactions of the Flemish media in account of the new edition are also gathered.

NIGHT OF THE PROMS IS GOING TO BE A BIG PART – a review of the press conference of 10-9
Christophe, who sings the bass at Fine Fleur, keeps a blog about the preparations of the choir to the fall shows. Lieselot helps him with the Dutch translations (so only available in Dutch and French).

Welcome!
This is a fan page of the Night of the Proms-editions in Belgium and The Netherlands. To make NOTP also famous across the border, we offer this website in three languages: Dutch, French and English.
German visitors we like to forward to the German fan page of our German NOTP friend Stephan. His site was kind of a model for us; thanks for that, also thanks to Jan and Bart of the organization.
This website could not be started without a good collaboration between multiple fans. Bernard and Dries started it, Laurent did a lot of research, and Christophe completed the team.
If you want to follow our progress? Click on ‘News’ at your next visits.
For the news of the shows in 2009, including a review of the programmed artists, we made a column NOTP in 2009.
All kind of useful information for both the first time visitor as the diehard fan, you can find under ‘tips and tricks’.

Research Requested!
Diehard fans; attention please!
We would like to bring a complete review of each year, starting with the shows of the 80’s and the 90’s. Where you there? Send us your impression of the show, and we can publish it on this site.
Of the shows between 1985 and 1994 we were not sure of the running order; thanks to Kris we could correct the ones from 1991 and later. Can you help us with the playlists between 1985 and 1990? All extra information remains welcome.
You can always contact us through admin@notpfan.eu
Have fun on our site!

Tomorrow, the first show is finally there! For 22 editions, Fred Int Panis (from Pretext) is the one that guides the media with the reports about NOTP. So he had a big part in the success story of NOTP. That is reason enough to ask him our final questions.

Dear Fred, we suppose that there is a lot of interest in the 25th edition of NOTP in Antwerp, surely with adding Roxette to the program. Is that true? Is there a lot of international demand? Fred: “There is a big interest for every year, definitely form all the Dutch media. This year I also noticed the interest from Sweden and Italy. This could be due to Roxette. Of course, we also have general interest from the Netherlands and Germany, because NOTP is visiting there. That interest is managed together with our Dutch and German colleagues.”

Technically speaking, will it be a special show? Fred: “Regarding images, there’s a lot of use from a LED-screen, like the one from two years ago. That screen is 38 meters wide and 12 meters high. Besides that there are more screens and flat screens in different sizes. The catwalks are in a T-shape this year and go q8 meters into the central square, where they end up in an extra stage of 4 by 4 meters. From that stage, catwalks depart to the left and right for 8 meters. In the main stage are 2 elevators. The main stage and elevators are own property of PSE-Belgium. The pink curtain hanging in front of the stage is 38 meters wide and 15 meters high. It moves by an electric system of rails.”

Are there still many tickets for sale or everything sold out? Fred: “NOTP registers a very successful sale this year, more compared to last year. We at a 13th show (11/11). Specially for that show, there are still some tickets available.”

This year, the organization is working together with the fund of Free Time Participation (in Dutch ‘Fonds Vrijetijdsparticipatie’) which enables the less fortune to visit the Proms shows. Does this initiative know any success? Fred: “That way, we’ve sold 188 tickets; so it’s not yet a big success.”

What does the show mean for Antwerp? Fred: “Night of the Proms 2009 stands for around 700 overnight stays in 3 hotels. Our support to the local catering industry, not including the restaurant bacchanals lead by Carl Huybrechts. In Antwerp, 4520 sandwiches are made for the choir, orchestra and extra’s, including the general rehearsals. Beers are not foreseen.”

You’re there from the third edition: congratulations for that! Which artist do you remember the most? Fred: “I’m there since the third edition. I remember mostly big artist like: Simple Minds, Donna Summer, Toto (their first time), Zucchero, Bocelli (of course)…”

The tickets delivered by Tele Ticket Service are specially printed since a few year and have a barcode to prevent forgeries and a black market. Are there still a lot major issues? Fred: “We’re amongst the pioneers in that battle. And it’s working nicely. Yet, there always be abuses to our system. Technologically, we’re very strong. But on the other side of the wall, there are some internet wizards of course. It’s a matter of being one step ahead of them and to react pro-actively.”

Give us some more numbers, Fred! Fred: “Night of the Proms is celebrating its 25th edition in Antwerp, its 19th in the Netherlands, 16th in Germany (although it changes per city). The Netherlands = 2 locations, Germany = 12 cities. In the German Munich, the 40th Night of tie Proms will be held, and during that show the 400.000th guest from Munich will be welcomed. By the last show in Germany, we will have the line crossed of 8 million visitors, throughout all locations and all years.”

“Something else: I’ve always been proud to been a part of the big NOTP-club and to be able to contribute even a small part to the GREAT, UNBELGIAN STORY.”

Well Fred, we thank you for that!


A review of the rehearsals and interviews: YouTube

An interview with Per of Roxette in ‘De Rode Loper’ (Belgian show): Een.be

A movie about Classic meeting hiphop on YouTube

At the picture above from Karen’s weblog, you see Per and Marie of Roxette discussing something (with for example Geert Keysers, Liv, Hille and Marjolein). The rehearsals are running at full speed and no negative feedback as reached us so far: so that sound very promising for the first show on Friday.

And that’s an extra reason to sit together with the people behind notpfan.eu. V: Dries, we’re online for about two months and a half. Happy? Dries: “I think we have enough reasons to be happy. Technically speaking, our website still knows some minor issues and all can be improved, but our product is ready to be shown and we have still some changes on our to-do list”. Bernard: “Indeed, we wanted to make a website with content that supports the real NOTP fan with information and data that is not available with the organization. So, we’re no competition for notp.be, rather complementary”. Dries: “The attraction of the site is that it is updated very often”. Bernard: “We wanted to build content from the start on; in the future we will do that a bit less”.

V: A site in three languages! What in investment! Maurice: “Multiple languages was worth the effort to help the fans outside the Netherlands and the Flemish region, and also to build out the Proms shows in Charleroi and abroad.” Laurent: “For me, they should return to France; driving 600 to 800 km to see a show in Antwerp or Germany, it’s too much of an investment every time.” Maurice: “That’s a real fan! You have provided a big contribution by gathering all those video clips.”

V: Are you guys VIP’s during the next shows? Bernard: “Oh, but we’re not in it for the champagne; I think the rather drink a nice beer over there.” Dries: “Our success is relative. After about 2 months and a halve, we had almost 5000 unique visitors, but I have the impression that a lot of fans don’t know the site yet. Now that the content is there, we can start the promotion.” Maurice: “The German organizers refer on their website to the German fan page of Stephan, but no reference is made in Dutch, French or English.” Laurent: “Many fans are fulfilled with the official website. We think that our webpage can compensate for that, and create enough goodwill for the actual shows.”

V: Finally, what are your wishes for the shows of this year? Dries, Bernard, Maurice en Laurent: “We wish to all visitors of the show, and the whole crew on and off the stage, a fantastic show to enjoy for a long time!”

Bernard

Christophe

Laurent

Dries

	Natrually, you’re following Maurice’s blog http://insidenotp.blogg.org/ about the rehearsals of Fine Fleur; the choir is being lead by the professional expert Edwig Abrath since 2000. Time for a few questions:
	Edwig, this year there will only be 16 singers of the choir on stage. Will the contribution of Fine Fleur to the show also be smaller? Edwig: “The smaller composition of the choir has no influence to our contribution during this 25th Night of the Proms edition. The idea behind this reduced choir set is mostly to be able to enable a more flexible Fine Fleur during the show and as a result to break with the traditional setup of ‘choir behind the orchestra’.”
	Kyra Cuypers was hired as a vocal coach; what is her task? Edwig: “Kyra will give the singers some hint about how to warm up their voice and body in an optial way as prepartion for the show. She also helps the singers to bring the technical hard passages, that are returning night after night, with more comfort, so that their voice will last for 40 shows. It’s the first time we call in a vocal coach. This is an initiative that was well recieved..”

Is it hard as conductor and choir to sing music from Within Tempation and Tommy Tallarico? Edwig: “As far as the choir’s part goes, Tallarico’s ‘Muse’ has a demanding high soprano which will be a challenge. Besides that, there are indeed some heavy choir parts with the hits from Within Temptation. They’re not really difficult, but very demand a high level of power and energy. It’s nice that these hits enlargen the varierty within the whole of the choir part.”

The first rehearsal was on the 27th of September, about four weeks before the first show. How many rehearsals are there and how long are they? Edwig: “In the weeks to the Proms shows, Fine Fleur rehearses 3 Sunday evening. The last week it’s more intensive: then there are rehearsals with the orchestra and the soloists. In a straight line towars the first show, we rehearse on almost a daily base. Don’t forget the choir sings without a score. The last and most intensive week is nessecary to sing the first show with enough confidence.”

Are you, as conductor of Fine Fleur, on stage with the shows? Edwig: “No, I’m doing the warm-up before the show. The singers are expected to be at the ‘Sportpaleis’ 2 hours before the show. Then, they start singing together as warm-up. This is done through a number of vocal excercises. After that, we go through the repertoire with extra attention to things that could go better compared to the last show. Sometimes we even change some members within a group. That way singers that were available for a few shows can be enabled again for that session.”

Which choir part would you like to bring with Fine Fleur during the shows? Edwig: “Throughout the last years, we brought almost every famous choir work that fits within the proms shows. So we’re a bit spoiled on that. Tallarico’s ‘Muse’ is a suprising new number this year that we like a lot to sing. The piece comes from a totally unknown corner, the game music, but isn’t less than the other choir phalanx from the past. We already gave a wishlist to Jan & Jan, but this song is one of their suggestions. Hopefully, we can keep suprising each other like this in the future…”

For the 25th time, Carl Huybrechts will take care of the presentation of the proms editions.
Dear Carl, the preparations for the first show are in full swing.
When do you start writing the texts? Are you the only responsible for writing the texts or are you coached in it? Carl: “I start two, three days before the first Proms. It’s not possible to do earlier because the final sequence of the set list can change at the last moment.”
You’re not only presenting the shows, but also take care of the artists. Are you taking them for dinner, or also other things: visit a museum, shopping, play cars,…? Carl: “Most often is going out for dinner. The most artists like to sleep late at this kind of events. Normally it’s for them: perform, race to the hotel, travel to the next city or country the next day, sound check, perform, hotel, travel. When they come to Antwerp and can stay at the same location for 5 weeks in a row, the can take the opportunity to catch some extra sleep. When they are English, I also take them to a soccer game, or a nice night club. Boys will be boys. Each year I go at least one time to the cathedral with those who are interested to let them sing on the organ-loft. That always give us the pimples, specially for the artists. The natural enforcement of the sound and the echo in the cathedral is phenomenal.”

Will there be big changes in the presentation for the 25th edition, compared to previous editions? Carl: “No, same system.”

Will you also dressed up nicely by Erna Siebens or will you be wearing your own suite? Carl: “By Erna who? Never heard of her.”

You start at your 25th edition in Antwerp. Are you more nervous? Carl: “I never was nervous for a presentation, not for a live audience and not in a tv studio.”

Interview with Carl in the Belgian magazine Dag Allemaal (in Dutch of course):
Part 1: page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4
Part 2: page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4
Part 3: page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4

Again we’ve added new video’s: Shaggy, Foreigner, Paul Young, Pointer Sisters, and many others…

Today is a memorable day! It is 24 years ago to the day, on Saturday the 18th of October 1985, when the first Night of the Proms show was performed at the ‘Sportpaleis’ in Antwerp. Do we hold a minute of silence at 20:30?

In the newspaper ‘Het Nieuwsblad’ of the 21th of October 1985 a small words of thanks by the organization was published (document only in Dutch).

You can read on our website the evolution of NOTP since the first edition.

Also people are evolving.

Our German friends quit airing the Germans NOTP shows since 2004. But that is about to change.

Deluxe Music will broadcast during November and December the shows of 2006 until 2008 on Sunday evenings between 19:00 and 20:00, on top of that they will air a ‘Best of Early Years’ on the 20th and the 27th of December. On New Year’s Day, they are holding a ‘Day of the Proms’ with some material that’s never been aired before, interviews and of course music.

Deluxe Music can be recieved on the cable in Germany, but is also available through ASTRA and live streaming over the internet.

Web site: www.deluxemusic.tv

You dress up nicely for a party; Erna is making sure of that. Erna has a lot of experience with costumes for theatre, movies and television (her website).

Erna, you design the costumes for fashion show of musical instruments at the 25th edition of Night of the Proms, and also for the extra’s of the choir. Are the members of the orchestra dressed up as well, including Robert Groslot? Erna: ‘A fashion show of musical instruments is a big statement, because it is a small band and not an orchestra , for the rest I also do the choir of soloists and chose the clothes for the backing vocals. Even the orchestra and the electric band are getting an extra color. Robert Groslot can choose …’
	Are all costumes finished already or do they have to do a lot of cutting and sewing at Huis Baeyens? Erna: ‘The production of the costumes for the extra’s is nearly finished; today I finish the details and Baeyens is completely finished … but I’m controlling with a whip . The items ordered abroad are being shipped, so that gives some excitement.’
	Will you also dress up the artists? The brothers Katona, Toots Thielemans, and the others? Erna: ‘The artists will all come in their own clothes.’
	Will all costumes will have music instruments as a theme? Or is everything evolving around a certain color? Erna: ‘The music instruments are my idea and are a cherry on top. The costumes for the extra refer to the theme’s of the music and colors are always important for me.’

Can you go your own way? In other words: do you have to take into account the people of the lights, direction, technical staff, etc… or is it the other way around? Erna: ‘The direction are the most important people, otherwise you get a beast with 7 heads… or more… light is of course important as well, because a costume you can’t see is useless as well . It’s more or less the other way around, because the choreographie as to take me into account… I came first and got a large freedom.’