Brussels Philharmonic
KlaraFestival 2010: THE Mahler CONNECTION!

Studio 4

KlaraFestival 2010: THE Mahler CONNECTION! Expect some early music – but introduced more subtly than one might think. It is the baroque attitude, above all, its refusal to accept tradition and its insistence on tireless research on both repertoire and playing styles, that will inform all repertoires, from Classicism to contemporary. Forza Musica!

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Brussels Philharmonic
Family Concert: 'Eroica'/Michel Tabachnik

Studio 4

Heroes are everywhere on this programme! The first hero lurks behind the tragic figure of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, the overture to which will serve as a musical foretaste of what happens in the opera itself. For Max Bruch, it is the violin that takes pride of place, an instrument that he regarded as the “queen of instruments” – his Violin Concerto No. 1 is standard repertoire for anyone who seeks to be a hero of that instrument. And who is that mysterious hero, anyway, to whom Beethoven dedicated his Third Symphony, the Eroica?

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Brussels Philharmonic
Exotic Hungary/Zoltán Kocsis

Studio 4

An exotic display of colour brought forth from impressionism, zigzagging between two Hungarian giants (Liszt and Bartók) and the French master Claude Debussy: an evening bathed in atmosphere, colour and Hungarian exoticism.

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Brussels Philharmonic
Moments poétiques/Michel Tabachnik

Studio 4

Johannes Brahms was unmatched in his ability to play with tonality and modulations. Proof of this is to be found in his strong-as-nails Third Symphony, which zigzags between major and minor keys, between fast and slow, joy and sorrow. The symphony ends in peaceful rest, but with Richard Strauss that peace quickly changes into grief and distress.

Grief in Metamorphosen, over the cultural decline caused by the madness of World War II, distress in the Vier Letzte Lieder at his own approaching death.

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Brussels Philharmonic
Impressions romantiques/Michel Tabachnik

Studio 4

From the flamboyant playfulness of Mozart to the climax of old-fashioned romanticism of Anton Bruckner: romance in all its forms. Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos was intended as a Spielerei, and gives the soloists every opportunity to shine. After the fancifulness of Mozart comes the depth of Bruckner.

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Brussels Philharmonic
Concierto de Aranjuez/Christian Vasquez

Studio 4

An evening centred on the well-known Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo, written in Spain just after the Civil War and the composer’s ticket to immediate fame. Felix Mendelssohn’s Fourth Symphony was composed, with the requisite flair, in Italy, a country that he was absolutely crazy about. And though Tchaikovsky may have been Russian, his Fourth Symphony was composed.... in Italy as well! The audience was not wild about it at first, but nowadays it is the most frequently performed of Tchaikovsky’s six symphonies.

An evening full of dazzling classics.!

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Brussels Philharmonic
New Year/Avi Ostrowsky

Studio 4

Early January. The year has scarcely begun, it’s cold and dark outside – we need some bubbles to usher out 2010. Nothing like a proper new year's concert to celebrate the transition!
This year we are calling on the Israeli conductor Avi Ostrowsky to take on the festive concert full of classics by the Strauss dynasty and other masters of the waltz. Singing along, clapping and a good time are the order of the day!

Carl Maria von Weber – Aufforderung zum Tanz
Joseph Lanner – Die Schonbrünner Walzer

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Brussels Philharmonic
Beat-it/Giancarlo Guerrero

Studio 4

A rare combination: a symphony orchestra and an enormous set of percussion... A work commissioned by the orchestra from composer Wim Henderickx for this arrangement is the core of the programme. But there's much else besides: Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion and Orchestra. Another form of brio may be heard in Ravel’s entrancing Bolero. And by way of a closing, Luciano Berio offers his distinctive interpretation of Boccherini. Just beat-it, as Michael Jackson would have said.

Jan Michiels en Inge Spinette, piano

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Brussels Philharmonic
MacMillan: St. John Passion/James MacMillan

Studio 4

Passiontide is coming, and hence the many concerts featuring Passions in all shapes and sizes. The St. John Passion by the contemporary Scottish composer James MacMillan is – unfortunately – seldom being performed. A work in ten movements with a baritone solo (Christ) surrounded by a large choir and orchestra. Don’t be frightened by the date of its composition (2007): it may be avant-garde, but the recognisable theme makes the music more accessible than you might think. An ideal opportunity to get to know contemporary classical music

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Brussels Philharmonic
Ars Musica/Franck Ollu

Studio 4

Ars Musica is a classic music festival, focusing on the music of today. It carries the standard of high international quality. Every year it focuses on musical creation. Other forms of art also participate : dance, video, visual and multi-media forms of art. By means of close collaboration with international partners, Ars Musica has become the number one player for contemporary music in Belgium. Brussels Philharmonic – het Vlaams Radio Orkest est depuis plusieurs années un partenaire fidèle du festival.

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