2nd Antwerp Spring Festival brings fresh spring classical and more

Antwerp celebrates spring from 14 to 21 May during Antwerp Spring Festival. In the unique architectural setting of the Handelsbeurs, the audience will be treated to the cream of classical music, the best of international contemporary dance and today's fado star, each time with a modern and innovative touch. Following the resounding success of the first edition, Antwerp Spring Festival returns this year with even more concerts for everyone who loves classical music with a springtime flavour. Antwerp has always been a vibrant cultural hotspot, but for the past year the port city has added its own classical music festival: Antwerp Spring Festival. 'Classical' should be understood broadly here; the programme features fado alongside symphonic work by Mahler and a jazz pianist performs a surprising piano concerto. Classical music with a twist, then. "That is hardly surprising as innovation is part of the city's DNA," says artistic director Benjamin Haemhouts, who ensures that modern and original elements are always present. There is particular attention to new work and emerging talent. Antwerp Spring Festival is not bound to a particular genre or era and therefore aims to be a complement to the existing traditional offering. Following a successful launch in 2022, the course is maintained at Antwerp's fairy-tale Handelsbeurs and the number of concerts will be expanded further. Clara Cleymans will host this edition and provide commentary and framing for each concert. The festival opens festively on Sunday 14 May with The Sinatra Concerto for orchestra and piano by Jef Neve. Exactly 25 years after 'The Voice' Frank Sinatra's death, this world premiere, for which Sinatra songs form the starting point, sees the light of day. Neve himself takes a seat at the piano and brings his new work together with Casco Phil under the direction of Benjamin Haemhouts. Subsequently, Simon Van Hoecke is also a guest for Dmitri Shostakovich's Concerto for Piano and Trumpet. Equally much renewal but much more stillness can be found on Monday 15 May during The Four Seasons Recomposed. The Bruges string orchestra BRYGGEN under the direction of Jolente De Maeyer and together with rising violin talent Emmanuel Coppey, presents a restrained, meditative concert with Vivaldi's Four Seasons in the leading role. The famous violin concerto wears, for the occasion, the minimalist jacket of composer Max Richter, entitled The New Four Seasons - Vivaldi Recomposed. The masterpiece is accompanied by Company by Philip Glass and Summa by Arvo Pärt. Marco Rodrigues also knows how to combine tradition and innovation like no other. On Tuesday 16 May, today's fado sensation brings traditional fado songs and his own songs with his enchanting voice and breathes new life into a musical practice dominated by female vocalists. For his appearance at Antwerp Spring Festival, he invites emerging talent as a mystery guest. After the choreographic part of the festival was enthusiastically received during the first edition, a dance double bill is now scheduled with no fewer than two world premieres in one evening. On Wednesday 17 May, the Panamanian dance company COCO (COMPAÑIA DE DANZA CONTEMPORÁEA DE PANAMA) performs Ash (short for Ashly), a quiet but lingering choreography that explores the border between life and eternal rest. Cuban choreographer Miguel Altunaga turns up the stillness to fiery heights with the spectacular Extase, which is musically framed by a live string quartet and percussion in a composition by Mathias Coppens. The festival concludes on Sunday 21 May with the majestic Fourth Symphony by Gustav Mahler, a work full of emotion and romance. And who can better express that passion than the Symfonisch Orkest Opera Ballet Vlaanderen under the direction of Alejo Pérez? In short, Antwerp Spring Festival promises to be a spring festival of considerable scale with an unforgettable programme that alternates between breathtaking stillness and exuberant ecstasy.

Antwerp Spring Festival

DATES: 14 to 21 May ADDRESS: Handelsbeurs Antwerp Borzestraat 31, 2000 Antwerp

discover the programme here