Brussels Philharmonic, Ilan Volkov & Ilya Gringolts

A forest, a castle and a fatal love triangle between two half-brothers and an elusive girl: welcome to the misty universe of Pelléas et Mélisande. In his symbolist masterpiece, Maurice Maeterlinck made the subconscious tangible. It is not the plot that matters, but the smallest vibrations in the characters' emotions. No wonder that it spoke to composers: when it comes to expressing the ineffable, music reigns supreme in the arts.

Around the same time as Debussy, Schönberg wrote his own Pelleas und Melisande. This symphonic poem is one long, compelling metamorphosis of themes and motifs. There is no better answer to Mélisande's mysterious silence than the work of the Croatian composer Mirela Ivičević: rebellious, personal, rooted in the now. Brussels Philharmonic premieres her new violin concerto, with Ilya Gringolts as soloist.

Programme

Mirela Ivičević (1980)

Violin Concerto (creation)

Co-Commissioned by I&I Foundation – on behalf of the sponsors Mr. & Mrs. Collardi – and the Brussels Philharmonic. Dedicated to Eloïse and Chiara Collardi. 

Arnold Schönberg (1874-1951)

Pelleas und Melisande, Op. 5

With a video by Lise Bruyneel, commissioned by Festival 20.21 (premiered on 25 September 2023, Leuven) 

Extra activities

Close Encounters 

Thursday 21.03 - 12:00

Open rehearsal: Watch the rehearsal from a unique spot: the stalls on our Studio 4 stage. Afterwards, chat with someone from on or behind the stage—be it the conductor, soloist, musician, or a production team member. More info & tickets

City Walk 

Saturday 23.03 - 14:30

Discover the Art Nouveau buildings around Flagey. Guided walk in dutch or french. More info & tickets

Symfomania XL - workshop for teens

Saturday 23.03 - 16:00

Are you between 12 and 15 years old? Then get ready for an awesome experience with Symfomania XL! In this workshop designed just for teens like you, we're diving deep into the world of symphonic music. By the end of the workshop, we'll have all the pieces of the musical puzzle together, and it's time to really feel the music—live, played by a real orchestra. Let's head to the concert hall for an unforgettable experience! More info & tickets

image © Astrid Ackermann