The former Argenteuil castle, on the edge of the Zoniënwood forest, once the private residence of King Leopold III and his wife Lilian, and later 'Argenteuil Estate', is now called Argenteuil Music Domain. Yes, because the entire grounds have now been added to the famous Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel from 1939, known primarily as the residence of the twelve finalists of the Elisabeth Competition who come here during the finals week to study their assigned final work in complete isolation (no smartphones allowed!) in full concentration.
Throughout the year, talented young musicians from home and abroad study here. They are young artists in residence who can perfect their musical training under the guidance of professional top musicians. They attend masterclasses here. This number kept growing and in 2015 a modern new building was added, at the back of the Music Chapel.
Music Chapel 1939 (left), new building 2015 (right)
There students could live with more comfort, in 25 studios with perfect sound insulation where they could rehearse freely without disturbing each other. New musical disciplines were added and this further increased the appeal of this international music campus with a growing number of applicants as a result. What now?
The solution came from a generous holding company. The SPDG holding of the Périer-D'Ieteren family – primarily invested in sectors such as sustainability – bought the Argenteuil Estate and has made it available to the Music Chapel for a minimum of 40 years. With this they want to "strengthen the opportunities of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and support the training of musical excellence"," Immediately, the historic site of the Music Chapel could be expanded by 136 hectares and the accommodation capacity was simply doubled.No more iron grille fences or ugly screening walls between the two adjacent estates: there is now a newly built dolomite path leading from behind the Music Chapel's new building to the castle. On foot it takes you twenty minutes and you walk peacefully along that path, lined with stately beeches, maples, conifers, all with undergrowth of ferns and brambles, a real forest setting. You do it listening to chirping birds and – far in the distance – the dull roar of busy traffic on the Brussels Ring road.
Keep that in mind Dand so you walk into the Argenteuil castle. eArgenteuil Castle
A castle
currently undergoing renovation because in mid-September the new MuCH season starts (MuChapel), the concert and events program of the Music Chapel. Of course, you can still reach the estate via the old access road, along the beautiful plane tree avenue. Greenery everywhere, much of it is actually a protected Natura 2000 zone. in full swing with renovations as the new MuCH season (MuChapel) kicks off in mid-September—the concert and events program of the Music Chapel. You can still access the grounds via the old entrance route, lined with beautiful plane trees. Greenery everywhere, and much of it is actually a protected Natura 2000 zone. Next to the reception area there will be19 fully equipped rooms for residents and common areas: lounges for organizing masterclasses such as in the grand hall where Leopold III once showed his self-directed documentaries, a reception room that becomes a concert hall, a library, the large and comfortable kitchen where young residents can cook their own meals, relaxation spaces. In any case, plenty of opportunities to create the same convivial atmosphere for the students here as they know from the historic building nearby. The new director Gregor Chapelle also likes to emphasize interdisciplinarity in the training of his students: future artists must broaden their horizons. Among the offerings of the existing departments
(violin, piano, cello, voice, viola and chamber music) there must be more collaboration and exchange. Three things are paramount: "conviviality" as he likes to call it, excellence in study and all enriched by this unique natural setting. It's no coincidence that MuCH's upcoming concert program is titled "Utopia," says artistic director Anne-Lise Parotte,
because ultimately this all becomes a realized utopiaThe starting gun fires on September 15. As a foretaste of those concerts, those present at this press visit were treated to a short recital by two residents, violinist Esther Yang and pianist Kojiro Okada, performing Mozart's Sonata K.454. An authentic anecdote about this? For the premiere, Mozart didn't have time to write out the piano part and played it entirely from memory….”
Gregor Chapelle, CEO and Anne-Lise Parotte, artistic director
