20 years!

In 2023, the Early Music Department of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels celebrates its 20th anniversary. A plethora of exciting and diverse projects are on the agenda for this special year.

For more information, and to book your tickets, visit the Royal Conservatory of Brussels website!

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20 years!

As a department with an international reputation, the Royal Conservatory of Brussels' Early Music Department is a unique hub for learning early music. Supported by distinguished instructors, it draws students from around the globe. Recognized across Europe as a center for research in musical practice, it provides students with a rich tapestry of orchestral, ensemble, and chamber music projects integrated with courses in historical practice. 

In 2023, the Early Music Department of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels celebrates its 20th anniversary. A plethora of exciting and diverse projects are on the agenda for this special year.

For more information, and to book your tickets, visit the Royal Conservatory of Brussels website!
Read more

Events

Start of the academic year

Start of the academic year

The department will participate in the inaugural concert of the new academic year on Friday, September 22, 2023, in the main hall of Rue de la Régence. This event will bring together teachers and students in a program showcasing music performed in Brussels during the early 17th century.

The symposium

The symposium

The 15th edition of the annual symposium sous la direction de Marc Vanscheeuwijck du lundi 23 au vendredi 27 octobre 2023. Le sujet de recherche vise à connaître la richesse artistique de Bruxelles et des Pays-Bas du sud de la fin de la renaissance à l’indépendance de la Belgique. S’alterneront des conférences, des lectures musicales, des communications, des master classes, mais aussi des promenades dans Bruxelles pour découvrir in situ les hauts lieux musicaux de cette riche époque.

The pioneers

The pioneers

Since the 1960s, Belgium has been a fertile breeding ground for the rediscovery of Baroque music and the performance of early instruments. Consider the pioneers of early music: Charles Koenig, Robert Kohnen, Janine Rubinlicht, the Kuijken brothers, Jos Van Immerseel, and many others. In this exceptional year, we aim to connect our students with these influential musicians who have shaped our musical landscape. To bring this project to fruition, three major events are planned:

  • Sigiswald Kuijken will lead an orchestral session showcasing cantatas from J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio, culminating in two concerts on Wednesday, December 20, and Thursday, December 21, 2023. 
  • Paul Dombrecht and Barthold Kuijken will be joining us for the instrumental fair on February 14 and 15, 2024.
  • Jos Van Immerseel will lead a classical orchestra session featuring the harpsichord and fortepiano, scheduled from April 20 to 25, 2024, with a concert at the Parliament. This project will be reprised with an expanded team as part of the Musiq3 festival at the end of June.

Gudule

Gudule

That's the name we've given to the central project of this anniversary, which will unfold through four events during the first 15 days of February 2024.

  • As part of our efforts to foster connections with other institutions, the Musée des Instruments de Musique will host the first event on Thursday, February 1st, at 12 noon. This session will feature a concert and lecture on the instruments used in Brussels during the 17th and 18th centuries.
  • The series continues with an event-concert at St. Gudule Cathedral on Saturday, February 10, at 10 am. Centered around the repertoire of the St. Gudule collection, this concert will feature the participation of notable figures such as Bernard Foccroulle and Guy Van Waas. Bringing together students, teachers, alumni, and fellow enthusiasts from our department, this significant anniversary concert will also serve as the opening event for the Brussels Early Music Festival, Festivita.
  • And since no birthday celebration is complete without a banquet, we will host a sumptuous feast at the Cercle Gaulois on the same day.

The festivities spanning these 15 days will reach their peak with an instrument fair in our premises on February 14 and 15, 2024, highlighting the exceptional craftsmanship of Belgian artisans in the production of historic instruments.