Brussels Philharmonic | Rachmaninov Festival

Rachmaninov Festival

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During two festival weekends at Flagey, together with the flamboyant conductor Giancarlo Guerrero and top pianist Boris Giltburg, we will showcase Rachmaninov's four piano concertos. Alongside the concerts, we've packed each day with thrilling extra activities in and around Flagey.

And there's more Rachmaninov to come: the Vlaams Radiokoor will kick off on Thursday, October 6, with the Vespers in the beautiful La Cambre Abbey. The young talent of Brussels Young Philharmonic will present their own Rach-concert in Studio 1 on November 11 & 12, and Cineflagey will feature special films with Rachmaninov's music in the spotlight.

Brussels Philharmonic will also create an authentic festival atmosphere at Flagey! Relax before and after the concert in our piano bar, delve into the details of the concertos during the Rachmaninov Deconstructed piano lectures, engage in post-concert discussions with Boris and Giancarlo in our BruPhil Café during the aftertalks, or register your team and put your knowledge to the test on Sunday, November 12, during our one-of-a-kind Rachmaninov Festival Quiz - hosted by Bent Van Looy, who is also the host of the concerts.

Want even more action? Korei Guided Tours offers tours of Flagey on Sundays and Art Nouveau city walks on Saturdays - and for the youngest fans, there are Symfomania workshops on Sundays or the Symfomania! DIY-kits to dive into the world of the great composer from the comfort of your own home!

concerts

Rachmaninov Transparant Treatment BLUE

Rachmaninov Festival 2023

During two festival weekends at Flagey, together with Boris Giltburg, we will be highlighting Rachmaninov’s four piano concertos, each accompanied by a piece from a composer who shared a special connection with him.

L Iebrecht Wide

Rachmaninov Deconstructed

During Rachmaninov Deconstructed, a series of musical lectures by Brussels Philharmonic, you'll have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the four piano concertos of the grandmaster Rachmaninov. In the intimate setting of Studio 1 at Flagey each concerto is meticulously dissected at the piano, guided by the expertise and storytelling talents of pianists Waldo Geuns, Florestan Bataillie, and Liebrecht Vanbeckevoort. Dive into the historical context, unravel the composition's structure, and unlock the musical mysteries. And rest assured, you'll also savor some delightful anecdotes along the way.

Brief Encounter P Oster

Cineflagey: Brief Encounter (1945) · 07.10.2023 · Flagey

Rachmaninov and an impossible love story set in 1940s England – what more could stir one's emotions? Lean directs with captivating intensity, while the Johnson-Howard duo engraves this passionate love tale indelibly into the annals of cinema history.

Shine Poster

Cineflagey: Shine (1996) · 08.10.2023 · Flagey

A biopic about David Helfgott, who, as a young boy, was rigorously trained by his father to become a pianist, but as an adult, suffers a complete breakdown and embarks on a journey through various institutions. Rachmaninov's demanding Piano Concerto No. 3 drives the immensely talented pianist to madness.

Brief Encounter P Oster

Cineflagey: Brief Encounter (1945) · 12.11.2023 · Flagey

Rachmaninov and an impossible love story set in 1940s England – what more could stir one's emotions? Lean directs with captivating intensity, while the Johnson-Howard duo engraves this passionate love tale indelibly into the annals of cinema history.

Rachmaninov Transparant Treatment BLUE

Rachmaninov Festival: programme notes

During the Rachmaninov Festival, the Brussels Philharmonic and pianist Boris Giltburg illustrate Rachmaninov’s career from the perspective of his four piano concertos. From his youthful First Piano Concerto, through the successes of his Second and Third Piano Concertos, to the sometimes jazzy Fourth Piano Concerto. In each case flanked by a work by a composer from whom he drew inspiration (or vice versa) or with whom he had a special bond.

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