In 2026, Philippe Boesmans would have turned ninety. A singular and influential voice in Belgian music—and for many years one of La Monnaie’s leading composers-in-residence.
With Boesmans Wave 26, we bring his work back into focus. Not as a retrospective, but as an invitation to listen anew, to rediscover, and to share his music with future generations. Throughout February and March, this Boesmans wave moves through Brussels, supported by a broad coalition of partners.
La Monnaie, Flagey, the Royal Academy of Belgium, Klarafestival, Brussels Philharmonic, Collège Belgique and the Conservatoire de Bruxelles
A musical homage to Philippe Boesmans (1936–2022), one of the most original and expressive voices in Belgian music. As former composer-in-residence at La Monnaie and a master of dramatic tension, Boesmans created a body of work that is both layered and accessible, refined yet deeply human.
where did he come from, which works propelled him to the top, and how did he reinvent the operatic form - Boesmans in a nutshell
