Season 2023-2024
The Power of Music
MuCH Music Season 2023-2024
The Power of Music
Dear patrons, dear season-ticket holders, dear audience of the MuCH season,
The team of the Music Chapel, our artistic director Anne-Lise Parotte are both happy and eager to pre- sent to you the new season 22–23.
Music is a vital part of our daily lives. Just as it can comfort and console us during difficult times, it can also celebrate and sublimate life’s joyful moments. The Power of Music is tremendous if you take the time to listen! The vibrations and emotions it arouses in us all connect us intimately to the humanity that lies in each of us, over and beyond geographical, political and social boundaries. Countless experiences in our concert halls and at our Community concerts bear witness to this …
After a turbulent season marked by the premature passing of the Chapel’s CEO Bernard de Launoit, this theme was an obvious one.
In March, his artist friends – Artists and Masters in residence as well as guest artists – will pay tribute over the course of two Schubertiades to the passionate and inspiring man Bernard was. The true architect of the Chapel’s project, Bernard de Launoit spent the last twenty years growing the “little gem” that is the Music Chapel into a unique project whose international influence and reputation are today undeniable, attracting young talent from around the world.
The more than 90 concerts and masterclasses on offer in 2023-2024 reflect the spirit of sharing and transmission so dear to our institution.
During this season dedicated to the Power of Music, in November we will celebrate the end of José van Dam’s long and fruitful tenure and the arrival of Stéphane Degout as Master-in-Residence of the voice section, alongside Sophie Koch. In addition, the Gala Concert on 17 April 2024 at Bozar, with the Appassionato Orchestra conducted by Mathieu Herzog, will give us the chance to discover our ‘Master of Music’ in an unexpected role that will be no less exciting for all that!
In line with its mission of mentorship and knowledge transmission, the Music Chapel will also have the pleasure of welcoming exceptional artistic figures as well as Belgian and international ensembles and orchestras in some twenty Prestige concerts. These include Augustin Dumay, Miguel da Silva, Gary Hoffman, Frank Braley, Avedis Kouyoumdjian, Corina Belcea, Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden, Sophie Koch, Stéphane Degout, Bertrand Chamayou, Tedi Papavrami, Bomsori Kim, Sergei Redkin, Quatuor Ebène and Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, Belgian National Orchestra, Listening Orchestra, Orchestre Appassionato, Casco Phil and Sinfonia Varsovia.
2023–24 will highlight the careers of artists who have now become Associate Artists or ambassadors of the Music Chapel during the 10 Artist Diploma concerts: Aleksey Shadrin, Salih Can Gevrek, Alexandre Chenorkian, Takumi Nozawa, Louise Foor, Valentin Thill, Maxime Quennesson, Carole-Anne Roussel, Zachary Mowitz and Mathis Rochat.
The Laboratory series will include no fewer than 40 concerts, among which the MuCH Surprise performances at lunchtime on Thursdays – when the young Artists in residence will surprise you with works of their own choosing – and masterclasses by our Masters in residence or guests such as Sol Gabetta, Gautier Capucon, Vincent Coq and Veronika Hagen. A series offering wonderful opportunities to discover and follow our young Artists in residence!
Music for the whole family will also be a feature of the Sunday morning program, with 6 Discovery concerts presented by Philippe Marion, the JenliSisters, Christian Merveille, a mischievous clown in the land of classical music with the ORCW, and a new show for the traditional St Nicholas concert.
And let’s not forget our two annual festivals: the Music Chapel Festival, which will be held at Flagey from 6 to 9 December to celebrate Mozart, and the MuCH Waterloo Festival, which will take place from 19 to 23 June 2024.
Lastly, we should mention the Violin Prelude with the Belgian National Orchestra on the 8th of February 2024, which will allow our violinists, who have just embarked on the adventure of the Competition, to perform the most famous violin concertos with brio…
With the theme “The Power of Music”, we’re reaffirming our commitment to making music an integral part of everyday life, accessible everywhere, all the time and for everyone!
Let’s make music a part of everyday life!