April at La Monnaie

April at La Monnaie

OPERA
Thanks to my Eyes Oscar Bianchi Last Tickets Thanks to my Eyes is the fruit of a collaboration between the brilliant Swiss Italian composer Oscar Bianchi – who is presenting his first opera – and author and stage director Joël Pommerat. This opera creation is fully in keeping with the theme of identity presented by La Monnaie this season, as it deals with the question of the stormy relationship set in the mountains between a father – the biggest comic artist of his time – and his only son, Aymar, who is incapable of meeting his father’s stifling demand to succeed him on stage. Forced to fit the paternal mould, the young man only finds comfort with a strange and timid woman, during dangerous and liberating nights away from the closed family setting. This Belgian premiere allows us to rediscover the fascinating poetic universe of Joël Pommerat following the theatre production of Cendrillon at the beginning of the season. 01, 03, 05, 06, 10 & 11 April 2012 - Théâtre National Are you under age 30? Benefit from a 30% reduction! > Read more
		Meet the Artists - Joël Pommerat & Franck Ollu   Discover the secrets of the recent creation of the opera Thanks to my Eyes with stage director and librettist Joël Pommerat and orchestra conductor Franck Ollu. This discussion – led by Christian Longchamp – will reveal the challenge of opera creation today. 01 April 2012 at 5pm - Théâtre National Free > Read more
OPERA
		Orlando George Frideric Handel Tickets Five exceptional singers – including Bejun Mehta in the title role – will bring to life the surprising and spectacular vision of the follies of love of Orlando, presented by stage director Pierre Audi. Will desire and destruction or reason prevail? Will the appearance of an eagle – both menacing and kindly – save a hero from a final descent into madness? Is love so dangerous? Conducted by René Jacobs – grand master of this repertoire – Handel's music will delight us thanks to the Baroque Orchestra B’Rock and their period instruments. 19, 21, 24, 26 & 28 April, 02, 04, 06, 09 & 11 May 2012 - La Monnaie Are you under age 30? Benefit from a 30% reduction! > Read more
		On the theme of Orlando: Inside the Music with René Jacobs   Dive into the heart of Handel's score during an exclusive encounter with René Jacobs, one of the greatest specialists of the baroque repertoire. A wonderful occasion to understand the challenges of Orlando and the conductor's approach. 23 April 2012 at 6.30pm - La Monnaie, Grand Foyer €6 More info ON THE THEME OF ORLANDO DURING THE MONTH OF MAY: 06 May 2012 - A stage with a view avec Tariq Ali 09 May 2012 - A night at the opera with Sioen 10 May 2012 - Orlando Furioso
OPERA STREAMING
		RUSALKA Relive the magic of Stefan Herheim's Rusalka. The full performance of the opera is available for free on our website until 16 April. With the support of MM Channel patrons > Read more
		THANKS TO MY EYES From 12 April until 2 May, the full performance of Oscar Bianchi's first opera, Thanks to my Eyes, will be available for free on our website. With the support of MM Channel patrons > Read more
BOOKING OPEN
		Il Trovatore Giuseppe Verdi BOOKING OPENS ON 28 APRIL Tickets for Il Trovatore, conducted by Marc Minkowski and staged by Dmitri Tcherniakov, may be purchased as of 28 April online, by telephone or at the box office. Would you like to purchase your tickets before then? Become an 'MM Friend' and book your tickets now! 10, 12, 15, 19, 22, 24, 26 & 29 June, 01, 04 & 06 July 2012 - La Monnaie > Read more
DANCE
		Drumming Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker Last Tickets The compelling rhythmicality of this long work for percussion ensemble propels the thirteen dancers from Rosas into a choreography which alternates between virtuosity, sophistication and limpidity. Based on a composition by Steve Reich, the entire choreography of Drumming proceeds from a single motion phrase, explored exhaustively and unremittingly through endless combinations, variations and transformations, by reversing it, speeding it up and slowing it down. 25, 26, 27, 28 & 29 April 2012 - Kaaitheater > Read more
CONCERT
		Otello, ossia il moro di Venezia Gioachino Rossini Last Tickets This little-known opera by Rossini is a splendid rarity: an opera seria by one of the masters of comic opera. According to him, this Otello could have been called Desdemona due to the importance of the female character's role in the opera. The participation of Anna Caterina Antonacci adds an even bigger dimension to this event, proving that this Otello may be compared to that of Verdi, with other qualities and strengths which make it one of the most beautiful works in the belcanto repertoire. 25 & 29 April, 03 May 2012 - La Monnaie > Read more
RECITAL
		Christianne Stotijn & Inon Barnatan Gaspard de la nuit Tickets Dutch mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn and Israeli/American pianist Inon Barnatan bring us this beautiful programme. Sensitive and subtle, this poetic wander through the musical nights of a contrasting variety of artists promises to be full of delightful surprises. You will hear Schubert, Berg, Moussorgski and Britten, as well as Ravel and his magical Gaspard de la nuit, which gives its title to this recital. 27 April 2012 at 8pm - La Monnaie > Read more
CONCERTINI
		CONCERTINI La Monnaie presents its Concertini lunchtime concerts every Friday at 12.30pm. You do not have to be a seasoned expert in chamber music to come and enjoy these superb short concerts or to talk with the musicians and likeminded music-lovers afterwards. On the programme: Femke Sonnen Fantasie voor solo viool, op.2 (2005) Bernard Foccroulle Ich zoll Silbern erzittern, für Alt Flöte (2011) Tristan Murail Les Ruines circulaires, pour violon et clarinette (2006)John Cage Sonata for Clarinet (1933) Femke Sonnen (vl), Carlos Bruneel (fl), Raymond Dils (cl) 06 April 2012 - La Monnaie, Grand Foyer Works of Ludwig van Beethoven Sébastien Walnier (vc) e.a. 13 April 2012 - La Monnaie, Grand Foyer Favorite arias of Norma, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, La Traviata, L’Elisir d’amore... PianO’per’Arpa : Letizia Belmondo (hp) & Zsolt Czetner (pf) 20 April 2012 - La Monnaie, Grand Foyer Gioachino Rossini Sonata a quattro n°6 (1804, rev. 1812) & Opera-ouvertures Octuor à vent de la Monnaie 27 April 2012 - La Monnaie, Grand Foyer > Read more
SAVE THE DATE
		12 MAY 2012 On the occasion of the European Opera Days, La Monnaie opens its doors! More information soon on our website.

 

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April at La Monnaie

Vier april met veel muziek! | Fêtez avril en Musiques | BOZAR MUSIC Newsletter april | avril 2012

nederlandse versie    version française 

Vier april met veel muziek! 

BALKAN TRAFIK, ZESDE EDITIE 12 > 15.04.2012 - 20:00 | Paleis voor Schone Kunsten
	Balkan Trafik is terug, met opnieuw spetterende muziek uit zuidoostelijk Europa: brassbands uit Servië en Roemenië, klarinettist Ivo Papasov, accordeonist Roberto de Brasov, de potige rock van Jericho, muziekcafés (rembetiko, manouche en sevdah) en de supergroep Band of Gypsies. (12 > 15.04) Info & Tickets

DE TERUGKEER VAN JONAS KAUFMANN 15.04.2012 - 20:00 | Paleis voor Schone Kunsten
	Laat u verleiden door de beroemde Duitse tenor. Met zijn sensuele en krachtige stem en het voorkomen van een jonge held, is hij de belichaming van de romantische zanger bij uitstek. Jonas Kaufmann doet enkele van de grootste opera-aria’s weer herleven. (15.04). Info & Tickets
SERGEY EN LUSINE KHACHATRYAN: EEN SCHITTEREND DUO 23.04.2012 - 20:00 | Paleis voor Schone Kunsten
	De eerste laureaat van de Koningin Elisabethwedstrijd 2005, Sergey Khachatryan, speelt opnieuw in de zaal waar hij de overwinning behaalde. Zijn zus Lusine begeleidt hem op piano. Ze stellen een meeslepend recital voor, met onder meer werken van twee Armeense componisten. (23.04)  Info & Tickets
ROCÍO MOLINA ZET BOZAR AAN HET DANSEN! 26.04.2012 - 20:00 | Paleis voor Schone Kunsten
	Het Paleis rolt nogmaals de rode loper uit voor de sterren van de flamenco. Rijzende ster Rocío Molina was de voorbije jaren te gast op de belangrijkste internationale festivals en ontving de belangrijke Premio Nacional de Danza. In haar zeer persoonlijk, expressieve dansstijl vermengt ze oeroude flamencotradities met eigentijds experiment. (26.04). Info & Tickets
EXPO’S + ELECTRO = BOZAR NIGHT 30.04.2012 - 20:00 | Paleis voor Schone Kunsten
	De optredens van het Ensemble Intercontemporain zijn al lang gezaghebbend. Aangezien Pierre Boulez om gezondheidsredenen niet aanwezig kan zijn, is het George Benjamin die de fakkel overneemt. Hij dirigeert een concert dat focust op de seriële muziek en haar erfenis. Op het programma staan werken van Donatoni, Borowski, Schönberg en natuurlijk Boulez. Info & Tickets

 

Fêtez avril en MusiqueS

BALKAN TRAFIK, ANNÉE VI 12 > 15.04.2012 - 20:00 | Palais des Beaux-Arts
	Balkan Trafik nous rapporte une nouvelle fois le meilleur de la musique du sud-est de l’Europe : des brass bands de Serbie et de Roumanie, le clarinettiste Ivo Papasov, l’accordéoniste Roberto de Brasov, le rock énergique de Jericho, des cafés musicaux - rembetiko, manouche et sevdah, et le majestueux Band of Gypsies. (12 > 15.04). Info & Tickets
LE RETOUR DE JONAS KAUFMANN 15.04.2012 - 20:00 | Palais des Beaux-Arts
	Laissez-vous séduire par le célèbre ténor allemand. Incarnant le chanteur romantique par excellence, à la voix sensuelle et puissante et au physique de jeune premier, Jonas Kaufmann, célèbre ténor allemand, vous fera revivre quelques-uns des plus grands airs d’opéra. (15.04). Info & Tickets
SERGEY ET LUSINE KHACHATRYAN : UN DUO ÉTINCELANT 23.04.2012 - 20:00 | Palais des Beaux-Arts
	Le premier Lauréat du Concours Reine Elisabeth 2005, Sergey Khachatryan, revient sur le lieu de ses exploits. Pour l’occasion, le violoniste est accompagné au piano par sa sœur Lusine. Ils proposent un récital passionnant qui comporte notamment des œuvres de deux compositeurs arméniens. (23.04). Info & Tickets
ROCÍO MOLINA FAIT DANSER BOZAR! 26.04.2012 - 20:00 | Palais des Beaux-Arts
	Une fois encore, le Palais déroule le tapis rouge aux étoiles du flamenco. Rocío Molina a foulé la scène des plus grands festivals internationaux et reçu le fameux Premio Nacional de Danza. Son style, très personnel, perpétue la tradition en enrichissant le répertoire de chorégraphies contemporaines. (26.04) Info & Tickets
EXPOS + ÉLECTRO = BOZAR NIGHT 30.04.2012 - 20:00 | Palais des Beaux-Arts
	BOZAR porte la musique électronique dans son cœur et la BOZAR NIGHT en est la preuve ! Expos et musique full électro pour la BOZAR NIGHT du 30 avril. Des VJ et des DJ comme Clark, Daedelus, Lazer Sword et GoldFFinch mixent des beats lancinants et de chaleureux soundscapes psychédéliques pour danser jusqu'aux petites heures ! (30.04). Info

BOZAR:

Richard Wagner - Latający Holender (making of) - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXwWw7euoPI&feature=share

Opera romantyczna w trzech aktach
Libretto: Richard Wagner według Memorien des Herr von Schnabelewopski Heinricha Heinego w przekładzie Moniki Muskały
Prapremiera: Drezno, Königliches Sächisches Hoftheatre (Semperoper),
2 stycznia 1843
Premiera polska: Teatr Miejski we Lwowie, 6 lutego 1902
Premiera obecnej inscenizacji: 16 marca 2012
Przedstawienie w języku oryginalnym z polskimi napisami

Dyrygent: Rani Calderon
Reżyseria: Mariusz Treliński
Scenografia: Boris Kudlička
Kostiumy: Magdalena Musiał
Choreografia: Tomasz Wygoda
Reżyseria świateł: Felice Ross
Przygotowanie chóru: Bogdan Gola
Dramaturg: Piotr Gruszczyński
Projekcje wideo: Bartek Macias
Stylizacja fryzur: Piotr Wasiński
Make-up: Gonia Wielocha

Obsada:

Daland - Aleksander Teliga
Senta - Lise Lindstrom
Erik - Charles Workman
Mary - Anna Lubańska
Sternik - Mateusz Zajdel
Holender - Johannes von Duisburg

Tancerze:
Justyna Białowąs, Joanna Drabik, Edyta Herbuś, Kaya Kołodziejczyk, Anna Krysiak, Katarzyna Waligóra,
Marta Złotnikiewicz, Tomasz Barański, Piotr Tyrka

Mimowie:
Krzysztof Baliński, Adrian Bartczak, Piotr Nowakowski, Michał Ciećka, Krzysztof Czerny, Leszek Stanek

Jedenaście lat temu Mariusz Treliński miał za sobą dwie wielkie inscenizacje operowe, które przyniosły mu polską i światową sławę: zachwycającą Madame Butterfly i świetnie przyjętego Króla Rogera. W wywiadach zapowiadał realizację Madame Butterfly w wersji amerykańskiej, Otella i Latającego Holendra. Dwa pierwsze przedstawienia ujrzały światło dzienne w 2001 roku, na trzecie przyszło nam czekać ponad dekadę. „Wagnera nie było na scenie od lat, dlatego powrót do twórczości tego kompozytora postanowiliśmy zainicjować od jego pierwszego, dojrzałego tytułu. Mam nadzieję, że powstanie intrygujący, nowoczesny spektakl, a ja wrócę do moich wcześniejszych fascynacji muzycznych. Wagner był bowiem moją przepustką do opery" -- mówi Mariusz Treliński w wywiadzie dla „Rzeczpospolitej". Latający Holender to jedna z najczęściej wystawianych oper Richarda Wagnera. Libretto napisał kompozytor na podstawie opowiadania Heinricha Heinego o przeklętym żeglarzu, skazanym na tułaczkę, póki nie znajdzie się kobieta, która będzie mu wierna aż do śmierci. Ta romantyczna legenda zrobiła na nim duże wrażenie. Na dodatek w 1839 roku, podczas podróży do Londynu, sam przeżył potężny sztorm na Morzu Północnym. Podobno wtedy narodził się zamysł muzyczny i artystyczny.


Pełny tekst libretta w polskim tłumaczeniu dostępny w programie do spektaklu.

___________________________________
realizacja: Michał Januszaniec

Richard Wagner - Latający Holender (making of) - YouTube

La bombe Warlikowski : Théâtre et compagnies

La bombe Warlikowski

Isabelle Huppert, toujours aventurière, l'avait choisi pour la diriger en 2010 dans "Un Tramway nommé désir".
Retour à Paris de Krzysztof Warlikowski, le surdoué polonais, star des scènes et festivals internationaux. Il signe "Contes africains d'après Shakespeare"; et d'après l'écrivain sud-africain Coetzee. Une fresque hypnotique, qui se mérite. 

Warlikowski, fils prodige de la grande tradition du théâtre polonais, est  un iconoclaste, un metteur en scène créateur qui attire dans son univers dur, hanté par la culpabilité et l’Histoire, les œuvres qu’il choisit de monter. Et il les électrise, les gratte à l’os.  Pour mémoire : «(A)ppolonia », « Le Dibbouk » ou « L’Affaire Makropulos » de Leos Janacek à l’Opéra de Paris. En 2010, sur la scène de l’Odéon, il a dirigé Isabelle Huppert dans une version non moins personnelle de « Un Tramway nommé Désir » de Tennessee Williams. Ce spectacle est encore en tournée, (en Australie) car Warlikowski est un enfant chéri des festivals et des grandes scènes internationales.

Il a crée « Contes africains d’après Shakespeare » au Théâtre de la Place à Liège, à l’automne dernier. C’est là que nous l’avons vu. Le spectacle, une fresque, durait plus de quatre heures.  Nous en avons un souvenir marquant, non sans réserves. Mais on sait que Warlikowski sans cesse remet en chantier ses créations…

Galerie de photographies, signées Magda Hueckel :

Warlikowski s’empare de trois figures de parias mis au banc de la société : le vieillard, le Noir, le Juif, trois héros shakespeariens, soit  «Le Roi Lear», « Othello» et Shylock, le Juif qui veut sa livre de chair pour venger son honneur dans «Le Marchand de Venise».

 Wajdi Mouawad, au meilleur de lui-même, a écrit pour le spectacle de somptueux monologues de Desdémone, et Cordelia.  Et pourquoi l’Afrique ? Sans doute parce que l’ensemble est traversé d’extraits puisés dans « L’été de la vie » de l’écrivain sud-africain Coetzee, qui a déjà inspiré pour partie « (A)ppolonia». Les héros de Coetzee sont pris dans l’univers rude du post apartheid,  confrontés au retour de la loi tribale, à leur culpabilité de Blancs, à leur chute.  

On retrouve l’art choc de Warlikowski, qui est grand:  collage, impact des images, toujours somptueuses, jamais innocentes ni vaines,  et d’une absolue modernité ; atmosphère sonore feutrée, lumières aux couleurs presque pop, agacement des nerfs, retournement des situations, improbables mais fertiles rencontres entre un boucher au tablier taché de sang découpant un morceau de viande et des hommes au masque de cochon, les épaules recouvertes du « talit » le châle de prière des Juifs. Les hommes ont pour les femmes des désirs infinis, désespérés. Ainsi vont ces «Contes africains» et ses histoires de famille damnées dans l’enfer glacé de leur destin. Le temps est à la haine et à l’amour, inextricablement mêlés. Et à l’exclusion. Si la pertinence du rapprochement entre Lear, Othello et Shylock nous échappe un peu, ce voyage dans l’imaginaire fertile de Warlikowski une fois de plus vaut le détour. C’est un écrivain de la scène, un penseur farouche d’un théâtre qu’il met hors de ses gonds. Il est le maître des visions sans pitié. Il appuie là où ça fait mal, avec une douceur aussi entêtante que la violence. Il a pour lui ses comédiens, tous fascinants, exceptionnels, on pèse ses mots.

«Contes africains d’après Shakespeare», du 16 au 23 mars.  Théâtre National de Chaillot (O1 53 65 30 00). A lire : le numéro 110-111 de l’excellente revue Alternatives Théâtrales consacré à K. Warlikowski sous le titre «Fuir le théâtre ».

John Maxwell Coetzee, né en 1940 au Cap et Prix Nobel de Littérature en 2003 inspire décidemment  les metteurs en scène. Si  Warlikowski pioche dans « L’Eté de la vie»,  pour partie biographique, le flamand Luk Perceval signe « Disgrâce », un spectacle cette fois inspiré du rude et splendide roman éponyme de Coetzee.

Un professeur d’université tombé en disgrâce à la suite d’une histoire avec une étudiante retrouve sa fille Lucy, ex hippie ayant choisi de vivre dans une ferme isolée des collines du Cap est. Un retour à la terre, hanté par la malédiction sourde et la culpabilité. Les animaux, eux non plus, ne sont pas épargnés. Metteur en scène invité du Toneelgroep d’Amsterdam, Luk Perceval fut un temps associé à la Schaubühne de Berlin. A notre avis, "Disgrâce" vaut le voyage, et aussi l'exposition "Lowtech" où treize artistes confrontent innovation technologiques et outils du passé. Un peu dans l'esprti du " Hugo Cabret" de Spielberg. Un signe des temps?

 « Disgrâce»,  du Jeudi 15 au 17 mars à la MC de Créteil dans le cadre du festival Exit  (01 45 13 19 19)

La bombe Warlikowski : Théâtre et compagnies

At least 5 superb shows to see for free on the Internet

At least 5 superb shows to see for free on the Internet

This never replaces the experience of sparkling creativity that you might feel at La Monnaie opera in Brussels, for example, but it can be a good cultural complement to the (unsatisfactory?) offer at your local opera house.

Think to contribute, if you can, and subscribe to Medici TV for at least a month. They make many videos of the top quality shows available for us and for all the viewers worldwide and they need subscribers...

Below is the list of 6 brilliant shows with links:

(1) Ariadne auf Naxos [dir- Philippe Arlaud, cnd- Christian Thieleman, cast: Renée Fleming, Sophie Koch, Jane Archibald, Robert Dean Smith, Nikolay Borchev, Steven Humes,...]

Production is not particularly interesting (i.e. Claus Guth production of this opera -- and the one by Robert Carsen-- remain unbeaten), but the conservative crowd was all excited because of Christian Thielemann. He did well although, IMO, Kent Nagano conducts this opera much better. Excellent cast dominated by Sophie Koch.

Click here to watch the show.

(2) Otello by Rossini [dir- Moshe Leiser & Patrice Caurier, cnd- Muhai Tang, cast: John Osborn, Cecilia Bartoli, Javier Camarena, Peter Kalman, Liliana Nikiteanu,...]

Witty and interesting production by which Moshe and Patrice confirmed that they are ones of the most intelligent and talented directors today (probably more intelligent than talented). With such an atrocious libretto, witty producers were indispensable. Good job! Although the hype was all about Cecilia Bartoli, John Osborne stole the show (big time!)

Here is your link where you can see the show.

(3) Péleas et Mélisande [dir- Robert Wilson, cnd- Philippe Jordan, cast: Stéphane Degout, Elena Tsallagova, Anne Sofie Von Otter, Franz Josef Selig, Vincent Le Texier, Jérôme Varnier]

It's the legendary Bob Wilson production that deserves to be seen once in life. 2012 is the year of Debussy, the cast and the orchestra were good, and I'm sure it will sound better on video than in the huge hall of Opéra de Bastille. Wholeheartedly recommended!

You can see it on this link until June 15 this year.

(4) Eugene Onegin [dir- Krzysztof Warlikowski, cnd- Pietari Inkinen, cast: Simon Keenlyside, Pavol Breslik, Ekaterina Scherbachenko, Alisa Kolosova...]

Not the best Warikowski, but it's still Warlikowski...---> Must see absolument!

Live webcast will start this Saturday at 7 p.m. (CET) on this link.

(5) Rusalka [dir- Stefan Herheim, cnd- Adam Fischer, cast: Tatiana Monogarova, Pavel Cernoh, Annalena Persson, Willard White...]

This is my favorite Herheim show together with Lohengrin. Even if it will allow you to see only a small fraction of brilliance of this gem --with respect to what you get during the live performance-- it is definitely the show not to miss. It is very regie but its spectacular side will hopefully help those who reject the inventive opera director to reconsider their positions. And yes - Tatiana Monogarova rocks!

Free online streaming will open next Tuesday (March 27) and it will be available for 3 weeks on this link.

(6) L'incoronazione di Poppea [dir- Jean-François Sivadier, cnd- Emmanuelle Haïm, cast: Sonya Yoncheva, Max Emmanuel Cencic, Ann Hallenberg, Mathias Vidal, Amel Brahim-Djelloul, Emiliano Gonzalez Toro, Patrick Schramm...]

This is arguably the most beautiful opera ever; this new production received rave reviews, the subtle theater by Sivadier troubled many people but apparently everyone was enchanted after the show. Our beloved Sonya Yoncheva was fantastic -- all reviewers are gushing over her vocal and scenic presence, and they all emphasize the passionate performance by Max Cencic, Ann Halenberg and Matias Vidal.

The show was recorded a week ago and will be available for 6 months on Arte Live Web, starting from next Monday March 26. 

Posted by Opera Cake:
 
Opera Cake: At least 5 superb shows to see for free on the Internet

BOZAR: 2012-2013 : Let’s Live Music!

2012-2013 : Let’s Live Music!

The new season is all about connection. Some 300 unmissable concerts will immerse the audience in the very heart of the musical experience. Some of these will also be seeking to connect with other artistic disciplines. As is the case every year, the programme caters to fans of every genre: early music, classical, romantic, modern, and contemporary, as well as jazz, electro, and world music.

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Subscriptions BOZAR MUSIC 2012-2013 :
From 19 March: subscription renewalFrom 23 April : changes and/or new subscriptions From 29 May: « à la carte » formula and individual tickets

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Connection, diversity, and interdisciplinarity are the key words for our 2012-2013 season.  BOZAR MUSIC will be bringing you the very best performances, interspersed with a series of activities (talks, introductions, interactive meetings, discovery trails, conference debates, etc) about the works and the performers that will take you as close as possible to the aesthetic experience, to a place where performance meets the visual art and meets every musical genre from the Middle Ages to the 21st century.

Seven main themes

For the oldest repertoire, there are several main themes running through our programme. The Europe of Humanism and the Renaissance is celebrated, highlighting the values of freedom, pluralism, tolerance, and solidarity that the European Renaissance gave rise to. BOZAR MUSIC explores the major steps in the construction of our identity and looks at the West’s relationship with the world around it. Notable performers on the programme are Doulce Mémoire, knocking on the Gates of Istanbul with the Turkish Kudsi Erguner ensemble (24 September) and Jordi Savall paying tribute to Erasmus with Hespèrion XXI (19 January).

We will also be celebrating La Serenissima, with the Venetian splendour that was created by the history of the Republic and its trade with the Orient. Pride of place is given to Monteverdi, with two concerts led by Rinaldo Alessandrini, in residence at the Centre for Fine Arts (1 January and 4 March).

Another theme will be Watteau and the muses. The exhibition devoted to this great painter of fêtes galantes will be accompanied by a series of concerts recreating the music of his time, thanks to our artist in residence William Christie, one of the curators of the exhibition. A number of events led by great musicians, such as Christophe Rousset at the head of the Talens Lyriques – whose concert will be choreographed by Béatrice Massin (20 March) – and Leonardo García Alarcón at the head of the Agrémens and the Chœur de Chambre de Namur (Namur Chamber Choir) (24 April), will reproduce the musical atmosphere in which Watteau lived.

And finally, there is the public’s extraordinary passion for Bach, which we felt we had to respond to. Bach Lives! therefore pays tribute to the Cantor, with the best specialists: René Jacobs will be bringing us the St Matthew Passion with the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin (31 August), Philippe Herreweghe will be performing the Christmas Oratorio as well as some cantatas with the Collegium Vocale (20 December and 29 January), Bernard Foccroulle (15 and 16 April), and many more.

As for more recent music, we will be continuing our Debussy retrospective. Krystian Zimerman (23 October) and Pierre-Laurent Aimard (5 December) – in residence – are amongst the pianists who will be performing his works.

We will also be devoting a series of concerts to Schubert. We will be celebrating the Viennese composer with major artists, including Marc Minkowski and Les Musiciens du Louvre (11 September), Sophie Karthäuser (23 February), and the Casals Quartet (20 April).

The Conservatory will be occupied by several former laureates of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, including Denis Kozhukhin (25 September), Ray Chen (13 October), Jan Michiels (5 November), Elisabeth Leonskaya (9 March), and Yossif Ivanov in a duet with Itamar Golan (6 March).

Five residencies

It’s as though it’s raining stars! Five residencies really stand out this season. As mentioned above, William Christie is one of the curators of the exhibition that the Centre for Fine Arts is devoting to Watteau. For this purpose, the conductor calls upon his Arts Florissants to return the music to Watteau’s painting (28 January). He begins his residency with an evening devoted to Charpentier (9 October) and ends it with a new release from the Jardin des Voix (28 March).

Rinaldo Alessandrini meanwhile shows us all of his many talents: he begins his residency with Rolando Villazón at the head of the Kammerorchester Basel (14 September), continues it with “his” Concerto Italiano and the RIAS Kammerchor performing Monteverdi (1 October), performs a harpsichord recital (15 January), and ends with the Concerto Italiano for his final concert (4 March).

It’s as a worthy successor to Bernard Haitink that Mariss Jansons took the head of the prestigious Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, also in residence with us. He will be leading his orchestra on two occasions (23 September and 31 January) as well as the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (27 March).

Pierre-Laurent Aimard will be taking the piano stool and the head of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen for a tribute concert to Mozart and Beethoven (17 October), accompanying the baritone Matthias Goerne (26 October) and performing a recital (5 December).

Pianist Nikolai Lugansky will be playing Janáček and Rachmaninov, as well as accompanying violinist Leonidas Kavakos (29 November), playing a recital (13 February), and accompanying the NOB for Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 (20 June).

A few highlights

As is the case every year, great voices will also be on the programme, notably Rolando Villazón (14 September) and Cecilia Bartoli (18 November). So will the great classics of the repertoire, with Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninov being performed by the principal Belgian orchestras, with top quality soloists including Bertrand Chamayou (7 February) and Ivo Pogorelich (5 April). We will also be giving a very warm welcome to Andrey Boreyko, the new musical director of the National Orchestra of Belgium, who is succeeding Walter Weller. The Russian conductor, who is known for the quality of his programmes, has reserved an important place for the repertoire of his own country, with Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich.

And, as always, we are working closely with the KlaraFestival, which this year will be knocking on heaven’s door with prestigious orchestras such as the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin (31 August, 7 September, and 8 September) and the Cercle de l’Harmonie which will be performing Mozart’s Le Nozze di Fiagro Mozart (5 September). We will also be making room for the young, with our traditional Rising Stars who will be visiting the international stages of each of the members of the ECHO network. And, of course, there is our Music and Poetry series, which will be celebrating the coming together of words and music, in true interdisciplinary style.

 

Belgian and international orchestras

Many conductors, soloists, and prestigious international orchestras await you. The Akademie für alte Musik Berlin, accompanied by the RIAS Kammerchor, conducted by René Jacobs, will be performing The Magic Flute (19 November). The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra will be conducted by Yuri Temirnakov himself for a programme centred on Prokofiev and Brahms (20 November). The Mahler Chamber Orchestra with Leif Ove Andsnes will be performing a concert devoted to Bartók and Beethoven (21 November). For this occasion, the pianist will be performing two of Beethoven’s piano concertos, the first instalment of a series of the complete piano concertos that will run through several seasons. Antonio Pappano will be back with his Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. On the menu: Verdi and Schumann (24 November). Iván Fischer will also be returning with his Budapest Festival Orchestra, notably performing Liszt’s Faust Symphony (6 March). The Wiener Symphoniker, conducted by Zubin Mehta, will be performing Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8 (11 March). Charlotte Rampling and John Eliot Gardiner, at the head of the London Symphony Orchestra, undaunted, tackle Stravinski’s Oedipus rex (22 April), while Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest for the centenary of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring (15 May).

The Belgian orchestras distinguish themselves with programmes that, as well as the time-honoured repertoire, include some new discoveries. These include DeFilharmonie with De Boeck’s Violin Concerto (15 November), the National Orchestra of Belgium with the world premiere of Victor Kissine’s Violin Concerto, performed by Gidon Kremer (14 December), the Brussels Philharmonic with Le Pacte des Onze by their own musical director, Michel Tabachnik, also a world premiere (15 December), and the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège with Gulda’s Cello Concerto (10 January). Meanwhile, Sandrine Piau finds herself back with her accomplice Jos van Immerseel at the head of the Anima Eterna Brugge, for some of Mozart’s arias (6 May).

Chamber orchestras & chamber music

Chamber orchestras and chamber music are equally well represented with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, accompanied by Maria João Pires, which devotes itself to Mozart (4 November), the Camerata Salzburg for a programme dedicated to the First Viennese School (23 January), and several renowned quartets, including the Borodin Quartet performing the complete quartets of Brahms and Tchaikovsky (10 October, 26 January, and 22 May), and the Hagen Quartett (18 April). Elsewhere, eminent musicians join forces, like Isabelle Faust, Jean-Guihen Queyras, and Alexander Melnikov (3 October), Renaud Capuçon, Daniel Müller-Schott, and Nicholas Angelich (1 December), or the Trio Talweg accompanied by Sébastien Walnier, winner of the Prix de l’Union de la presse musicale belge (Belgian Music Press Award) (14 January).

There will also be numerous recitals at the Centre for Fine Arts: Christian Tetzlaff on violin and Leif Ove Andsnes on piano (12 December), Hilary Hahn on violin (12 January), Mitsuko Uchida on piano (22 January), and Mischa Maisky on cello with her daughter Lily on piano (13 March).

Music of the past and the present, from here and from elsewhere

As well as the traditional European repertoire, BOZAR MUSIC’s programme also opens the stage to all kinds of music. Electronic music is always featured, with the BOZAR ELECTRONIC ARTS WEEK-END, which offers the best of international electro, accompanied by digital art, installations, and audiovisual performances (21 and 22 September) and BOZAR NIGHT, which follows a nocturnal visit to the exhibitions at the Centre for Fine Arts, with a party until the early hours with the best of today’s DJs (23 November and 27 April).

Jazz is also alive and kicking with Diana Krall, who will set the Centre alight with her contralto voice (29 October) and the Vijay Iyer Trio, who are offering an evening centred around their new album, eagerly awaited since the famous "Historicity". Joshua Redman, leader of an entire generation of saxophonists and travelling companion of Brad Mehldau, is returning with his famous James Farm quartet, while the maestro of lyrical trumpet, Enrico Rava, is accompanied by young turks from his Tribe (15 January).  John Hebert, a major discovery of the double bass, prepares a very personal tribute to Charles Mingus with his new quintet made up of Tim Berne, Fred Hersch, and other big names of contemporary jazz (15 April). 

Our tour of the world music begins with Portuguese fado: Katia Guerreiro, passionate performer of the great Lusophone songbook (25 November), the Quintetto Lisboa, who brought new life to the genre (1 February), and Ana Moura, who has established herself as a new leading figure in fado (10 May). Then we take a small detour to the South, with Fatoumata Diawara, who mixes musical traditions of the Malian region of Wassalou with elements of blues and jazz (5 September). Heading east, then, we have the 7^th edition of the Balkan Trafik Festival, which brings together the best of Balkan music (18-21 April). Finally, we head towards the Muslim world, with a new edition of Sufi Night (28-29 September). This year, our oriental journey takes us through tarab. A key concept in Arab music, tarab seeks to reach spiritual heights through emotion and poetry. Oum Kalthoum was one of its greatest representatives. Amal Maher will be paying tribute to her with an orchestra of 30 musicians (6 October). Arab modernity is represented by the Lebanese oud player Marcel Khalifé, pioneer of the Arab spring (17 November). An evening of classical Iraqi maqâm also provides a different perspective (2 February). And finally the Parfums Ottomans project brings together the best musicians from Alep (Syria) and Istanbul (Turkey) to play music from the Arabo-Turkish court of the ottoman era (18 April).

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BOZAR: 2012-2013 : Let’s Live Music!