Articles

Bloemen in klank en kleur

Exit voor Klara’s “Iedereen klassiek” in Brugge

De vier elementen in menselijke stemmen

Christmas with Currende

Ars Musica 2026: Arctic Fever brings the High North to the concert hall

In the beauty we see – in conversation with Jean-Luc Fafchamps

Jean-Luc Fafchamps on the world premiere of Messe des Glaces within the framework of Ars Musica, beauty, and a musical language that keeps changing

Finding Inner Flame – in conversation with Erkki-Sven Tüür about his new composition

On the occasion of the Ars Musica festival, the Estonian composer talks about his new work for strings and percussion, about Arvo Pärt and about the ice of Hiiumaa.

New touring opera company makes an immediate impact with Lucia di Lammermoor

The world belongs to the bold. The last week of October 2026 proved that there are, at the very least, musical daredevils who, despite searching for subsidies like a needle in a haystack, have the courage and strength to perform far beyond all expectations with an enormous lack of financial resources, and to make clear that there is a future—a future in which they are part of. This became evident the day before with the young a cappella ensemble Vetus Carmina from Antwerp, and with the very first opera programmed by the Belgian Opera and Operetta Organisation, BOOO for short, which boldly took on Gaetano Donizetti's (1797–1848) Lucia di Lammermoor as a leap into deep water. Mission more than accomplished; I can still hear the cries of "bravo." So once more, for good measure: "Bravo!"

Rustgevend zingend renaissance Allerheiligen in Sint-Romboutskathedraal

The Sint-Romboutskathedraal is, like all Gothic and Romanesque churches, large and small, an ideal setting for Renaissance and polyphony to resound. The composers were so familiar with these spaces over the centuries that they took them into account when composing. It came so naturally to them that eventually they may no longer have thought immediately about whether it could still be heard clearly and comprehensibly. They did it in any case, and yes, then you are quickly tempted, even though that is not allowed in a church, is it?

The 12 Cellists + 1 from the Berliner Philharmoniker at Flagey

We are not immediately overcome by superstitious fears at the number 13, but there are twelve of them: the 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker. For the concert in Brussels in the famous Studio 4 of the Flagey building, there was one extra cellist at the end of the concert. A surprise that was somewhat less surprising for the readers of Klassiek Centraal, as only our magazine was allowed to announce in advance who would be performing on stage.

Chinese Buddhist monks form successful symphonic peace orchestra

Rubbing our eyes was the first reaction upon receiving the invitation to attend a concert titled ‘Voices of Peace’ by a symphony orchestra made up of young Buddhist monks from a temple in Madagascar, performing on a tour through Brussels, Berlin and Milan. Would that really work out?

Cd-box Koningin Elisabethwedstrijd Cello 2026

At the end of May 2026, the Queen Elisabeth Competition closed its cello edition with the award of the Italian cellist Ettore Pagano. Tae-Yeon Kim won the second prize and the Klara audience prize, followed by Leland Ko, Álvaro Lozano Cames, Yo Kitamura and Maria Zaitseva. Six other laureates complete the list of twelve.