Under the motto 'Normal Gets You Nowhere', the thirteenth edition of Festival Kortrijk kicks off next week. For five days, cellist and guest curator Benjamin Glorieux demonstrates just how broad the world of classical music is. So broad that you can even see rock and blues icons Roland Van Campenhout and Raymond van het Groenewoud on stage.
In 2020, Festival Kortrijk had just finished when the entire country went into lockdown. Now, two years later, the Festival reopens as one of the first at full capacity. To celebrate that live experience, Festival Kortrijk opened some extra registers with a daring programme. "Because the tree that's standing there, you're allowed to give it a loving shake, right?" - Benjamin Glorieux.
On Saturday, March 5, everyone can warm up with the experimental mini-festival Night Air (featuring jazz heroes like The Gallands). The opening concert on March 9 also immediately pushes the boundaries of classical music by bringing two greats together: Raymond van het Groenewoud and Bach. Accompanied by baroque ensemble Il Gardellino, Raymond, Benjamin Glorieux and oboist Marcel Ponseele search for common ground in the music of both masters in this creation.
On March 11, a second premiere follows: Benjamin Glorieux performs on a cello made from flax fiber, designed by Tim Duerinck on commission from museum Texture. The music is based on scores of old flax songs.
With Brussels Philharmonic conducted by Alexei Ogrintchouk, a true classic is on the programme on March 12. Violinist and Queen Elisabeth Competition laureate Sylvia Huang brings a programme of Mozart and Tchaikovksy together with them.
The closing concert then proves that blues can also rhyme with classical music. Roland Van Campenhout provides the lead with his guitar playing and grain de la voix for Gulda's concerto for cello and wind orchestra. Add Glorieux's amplified cello, the Koninklijke Harmonie Vooruit Harelbeke and some majorettes and it promises to be a splendid end to Festival Kortrijk.
Talent from Kortrijk
Tom De Cock, programmer of classical/contemporary classical at Wilde Westen, places great importance on local roots. "HERMESensemble will be assisted for the production 'Revelations' by a 20-member choir with members of the Kortrijk choirs Zimra, Ars Vocalis and Kortrijks Vocaal Ensemble," says Tom De Cock. "Benjamin Glorieux is also joined by the cello class of Conservatorium Kortrijk for his flax cello concert and the closing concert gets an extra dimension thanks to Koninklijke Harmonie Vooruit Harelbeke."
But Festival Kortrijk also literally steps off the beaten path. On Sunday afternoon you can admire different young top musicians at unique locations in the city during Fireplace. Experiencing live music in the broeltorens will undoubtedly be a goosebumps moment.
Festival Kortrijk is an organisation of Wilde Westen vzw. The complete programme can be found at www.festivalkortrijk.be.