Performance-oriented presentation

The musicians of B'Rock are constantly in search of historical background knowledge, which, however, they do not consider to be the final aim. B'Rock opts for a historically correct interpretation of early music whilst avoiding to lapse into mummified and servile reproduction. In this sense, B'Rock rallies the historically informed performance practice as described by John Butt in his book 'Playing with History'.

B'Rock consciously chooses for an up-to-date 'presentation' of baroque music and does not believe in one single historical truth.

Far more important is the development of a contemporary view on early music setting great store by the context in which the music is brought back to life nowadays. This kind of view implies a performance-oriented presentation combining contemporary points of view with knowledge of historical background. It implies conscious choices with respect to selection of instruments, programmes, strength of the orchestra, internal organisation and communication, but also demands a special focus on an energetic style of playing: keen, dynamic, on the sharp edge, spontaneous, free...

Starting from the original sound of historical instruments B'Rock seeks emotional (not sentimental) and rhetorical authenticity. The guiding principle is to start live on stage a direct, purely musical and sparkling dialogue with the audience. Using the words of Diederik Verstraete from the prominent Flemish newspaper De Standaard: "with B'Rock performance bliss is splashing from the stage". And that, for B'Rock, is all what contemporary interpretation of early music is about.