MAX FESTIVAL: Excellence in the heart of a village

Demanding in terms of quality, but relaxed in form, the Max Festival turns the codes of classical music upside down with an original and poetic programme carried by internationally renowned artists. From 15 to 18 September, the festival celebrates its 7th edition with musical gems in the Romanesque Sint-Maartenskerk of Tourinnes-la-Grosse: 1000 years of heritage, nestled in the heart of a Walloon-Brabant village and renowned for its magnificent acoustics. This year's programme is marked by the number 7, a symbol of unity, completeness and perfection. Max Festival lets you discover and rediscover the greatest works from the classical repertoire in as many notes and colours.

An international classical music festival in the heart of the Walloon countryside? That is the Max Festival, in the Sint-Maartenskerk in Tourinnes-la-Grosse. Away from the beaten path, this festival with its unique concept hosts the greatest names in classical music in a programme full of concerts, performances, original musical experiences, meetings and workshops.

For this 7th edition, the line-up is made up of great names and ensembles: soloists Irina Lankova (Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw), Alina Pogostkina (Sibelius Competition laureate) and Bruno Philippe (Elisabeth Competition laureate), together with the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, Robin Pharo and his ensemble Près de votre oreille in a rarely performed repertoire of John Dowland.

Another remarkable experience is offered by the vocal ensemble Vocem Flentium. They perform a polyphonic programme at dawn and by candlelight (at 6 o'clock in the morning). The youngest are invited by the Max Festival to Théâtre des 4 Mains in Beauvechain for a playful walk in the woods to the sound of the cello.

Jazz pianist Olivier Collette was asked to shuffle the traditional codes. He presents with his jazz trio arrangements of Chopin, Mozart, Debussy, Ravel and Bach full of finesse and ingenuity.

Inspired by ceramicist Max van der Linden, who was at the foundation of the first Belgian artists' route, Max Festival was launched in 2015 to continue sharing beauty. With this varied programme, Max Festival wants to make musical excellence accessible to the general public.