Ton Koopman receives a Golden Record

Last weekend, at Easter Sunday, the Dutch television programme Vrije Geluiden visited Ton Koopman at his own house and had Easter breakfast with him. Melchior Huurdeman talked with Ton about the Matthäus Passion and the famous conductor received from him a Golden Record for selling more than 10.000 records of the Matthäus Passion, which he recorded with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir. A well-deserved trophy for a wonderful performance of Bach's masterwork!

Furthermore Ton and Melchior talked about how to play the harpsichord and what nuances one can use in playing this instrument. Ton Koopman plays at his home on his own harpsichord the Sarabande of J.S. Bach from the 5th French Suite. Also he tells about dynamics, embellishements, tempo etc. How free can one be or play on a harpsichord? According to Ton Koopman one cán use dynamics, maybe somewhat less than a Steinway, but there are so much possibilities and you have to make use of them. When a harpsichordplayer plays a piece very stiffly then he does no right to the music. It is first knowing as much as possible about this music by way of studying and reading about it and then playing the music as freely as you can and as natural as you can, within the space you have. Also embellishements and small nuances can make a world of difference. This a musician does when a part is repeated, because a composer writes down the music but when it is repeated, the musician has a freedom to make some small changes as he pleases.

In the programme Ton Koopman also played the famous Toccata in D of Bach on the organ and again he does that in a way which is always inspiring and alive. As a conductor Koopman is a self taught man. This role he took on at one time and it came so naturally. Inspiring people to work together and perform a piece together is important in his work as a conductor. It is all about the making of music says Ton Koopman. Emotion is an important ingredient in making music and it must be clear which path you follow. If you know what you want, than the rest will come.
 
Ton Koopman also plays at his own little organ at home an enchanting Fuga of Dieterich Buxtehude and he and presentor Melchior Huurdeman talk about the reconstruction of a pasrt of the Markus Passion. Ton shows Melchior some of his treasures he has at his home and library. He is a collector of etchings, books, paintings and other treasures that are meaningfull to him. All inall a very beautiful edition of Vrije Geluiden wíth a golden lining!

You can watch the programme with Ton Koopman here
For more information about the Matthäus Passion; go here
Visit Ton Koopman's new website here