We owe a great deal to the Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe: as a tribute to him, Queen Elisabeth founded the violin competition in 1937, shortly after his death, first bearing his name and later her own. César Franck’s Violin Sonata, written as a wedding gift for Ysaÿe, is also part of his musical legacy. Today the work stands at the core of every major violinist’s repertoire. Timothy Chooi (2^nd Prize 2019) and Jonathan Fournel (1^st Prize 2021) perform this monumental sonata with shared virtuosity and expressive power.

Queen Elisabeth was born 150 years ago, a monarch with a warm heart for music and culture. Her name lives on in the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition, which has been launching leading musical talents for decades. We are celebrating this anniversary with a reunion that is already historic: ten of the most iconic laureates are gathering for one day at Flagey. They will fill the building with violin, cello, piano and singing, in various constellations.

Flagey, Klarafestival, Queen Elisabeth Competition

More information: klarafestival.be