On the Rhythm of Music

What is music? It brings colour to words, places, faces and things.
It is present at every celebration in Wallonia and Brussels. Not surprising in a country where an opera started the Revolution.
Music is the best way to discover Wallonia and Brussels. Between the notes, the rhythms and refrains you can perfectly discover what makes this country tick, its traditions, its moods, its influences and its musical mixtures that have left a mark on Belgian history.

Music of all types

Do you enjoy classical music? Then let me take you to the ROYAL MONNAIE THEATRE (BRUXELLES), one of the most coveted lyric “temples” of Europe.

A classic among classics: "Otello", "Parsifal" or "L'Orfeo" are staged among many other famous works. There is classical dance too: Classical concerts, and finally the dense programme of the Brussels Philharmonic Society. Bach, Händel, Debussy (...), all the great composers are honoured, together with less known repertories and music from around the world.

Moreover, unexpected are the festivals that give rhythm to the city all year round. The FLANDERS FESTIVAL BRUSSELS - KLARAFESTIVAL (BRUXELLES) schedules some 300 events well beyond the capital, whereas the FESTIVAL OF WALLONIA (WALLONIE) reveals its innovative character more and more every year.

And then, go and listen to ARS MUSICA (BRUXELLES), the contemporary music festival with its ever so intriguing sound. In April, discover the BAROQUE SPRING OF THE SABLON (BRUXELLES) in the Sablon which brings out its glorious past.

The Muses are on the street

Music cannot wait for concert halls. It can be heard everywhere in the streets of Brussels. I will not only talk about the bands and celebrations that regularly take place in parks and on pavements but especially about the syncopated rhythms of Jazz. The evenings in May are swept away by the maddening notes of swing and the blues during the BRUSSELS JAZZ MARATHON (BRUXELLES) and continue on the sound of ethnical music at the COULEUR CAFE FESTIVAL (BRUXELLES).Jazzy Nights!

From the exits of the Underground to the terraces of cafés, through improvised stages outdoors, Brussels swings and fills my soul with a festive mood.

Wallonia and Brussels are located at the crossroads of the European cultures. That's why they have been an exceptional musical melting-pot since the Middle Ages. From Roland de Lassus to José Van Dam, from Adolphe Sax to Toots Thielemans, from Gretry to Vieuxtemps, from Brel to Adamo or Maurane, the Belgian artists - composers or interpreters - become more creative and better. Their music abounds with landscapes, meadows, hamlets, forest, and art cities in Wallonia and Brussels.
Music brings joy to people's hearts and has allowed them to build profane and religious temples. With them, music opens the door of abbeys, operas and castles. Moreover, festivals bring people closer together.

AUDI JAZZ FESTIVAL (REGION BRUXELLOISE)

ARS MUSICA (BRUXELLES)

CHIMAY FESTIVAL OF BAROQUE MUSIC (CHIMAY)

BAROQUE SPRING OF THE SABLON (BRUXELLES)

INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL ENCOUNTERS OF ENGHIEN (ENGHIEN)

24rd FESTIVAL VERDUR'ROCK (NAMUR)

24rd MUSIC FESTIVAL - BRUSSELS (REGION BRUXELLOISE)

BRUSSELS SUMMER FESTIVAL (EU'RITMIX) (BRUXELLES)

CHANTONS FRANCAIS ! (LET'S SING IN FRENCH !) (REGION BRUXELLOISE)

QUEEN ELISABETH OF BELGIUM INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION (BRUXELLES)

To get to know more about the Walloon and Brussels musical personalities, as well as the renowned places for their musical events.

Josquin Desprez (around 1440-1521)
Roland de Lassus (1532-1594)
André-Modeste Grétry (1741-1813)
Henry Vieuxtemps (1820-1881)
César Franck (1822-1890)
Eugène Ysaye (1858-1931)
Guillaume Lekeu (1870-1894)
Adolphe Sax (1814-1894) http://www.dinant.be/clindoeil/sax.htm

Personalities: contemporaries, classical music

José Van Dam
National Orchestra of Belgium http://www.nob-onb.be
Philharmonic Orchestra of Liègehttp://www.opl.be

Personalities: contemporaries, French songs

Adamo http://www.adamosalvatore.com
Julos Beaucarne http://www.julos.be
Jacques Brel http://www.jacquesbrel.be
Annie Cordie http://www.world-of-newave.com/celebrity/annie-cordy/
Philippe Lafontaine http://www.philippelafontaine.com/
Maurane http://www.maurane.com
Pierre Rapsat http://www.amisdepierre.be

Personalities: contemporaries, jazz

http://www.jazzinbelgium.org
Philip Catherine http://www.jazzinbelgium.org/mus/philcat.htm
Toots Thielemans http://www.tootsthielemans.com

Top-class locations and museums

Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) http://www.mim.fgov.be
La Médiathèque http://www.lamediatheque.be
Barrel Organ Museum
Clocks and bells museum http://www.tellin.be
Maison de la Pataphonie http://www.dinant.be
House of Jazz in Liège http://www.jazzinbelgium.org
Jazz Museum in Brussels

Concert locations: castles

Feudal Castle of Lavaux-Sainte-Anne http://www.chateau-lavaux.com
Castle of La Hulpe http://www.idearts.com/agenda/classique/chateau.htm
Château de Beloeil http://www.beloeil.be
Castle of Seneffe http://www.seneffe.be
Castle of la Follie http://www.musiquefollie.be.tf

Religious concert locations

Ruins of the Abbey of Aulne http://www.thuin.be
Ruins of the Abbey of Villers-la-Ville http://www.villers.be
Cathedral of Saints Michael & Gudule
Collegiate church Sainte Gertrude in Nivelles http://www.tourisme-nivelles.be

Concert locations, centres...

Palace for Fine Arts (BOZAR) http://www.bozar.be
Royal Opera of Wallonia http://www.orw.be
Theatre of Namur http://www.theatredenamur.be
Royal Monnaie Theatre http://www.lamonnaie.be
Flagey http://www.flagey.be
Botanique http://www.botanique.be

Useful Links in Wallonia

http://www.ccrc.be
http://www.charleroi-culture.be
http://www.lafabrique.be
http://www.lecorto.be
http://www.leforum.be
http://www.maisonculturetournai.com
http://www.orw.be
http://www.polyphonic-cafe.be
http://www.soundstation.be
http://www.spiritof66.com
http://www.wex.be
http://www.acte3.be
http://www.moderne.org
http://www.soundstation.be
http://ww.musique.namur.be
http://www.musiquefollie.be.tf