Just refreshing the memory. What does LUNALIA stand for? The flag that reveals the cargo has a strong Mechelen connotation. The name refers to the Mechelen legend of the moon extinguishers (Luna) and to the fascinating universe of song and the human voice (lia).
With the subtitle 'The Sound of M', the connection to the city is drawn even closer: Music, Mechelen, Moon, Mmmm. Mechelen also has much to offer culinarily. Not a Festival for a limited group of people, but for as many as possible. Mayor Bart Somers spoke highly of the first working year of artistic director Jelle Dierickx. He challenged him to also establish and realise his mastery in this second and subsequent editions.
Jelle Dierickx
Jelle Dierickx is full of admiration for the classical repertoire but also keen on new material. He gathered with his team an select selection of instrumentalists and vocalists. He brings diverse worlds, traditions and disciplines together, refreshing and original. He likes to test boundaries and make cross-connections. The special thing about this edition: the Festival van Vlaanderen Mechelen reaches the milestone of 50 years and has had only three directors in this half century. The foundation was laid by the acclaimed Marcel Kocken, his successor Veerle Declerck laid different accents and since last year Jelle Dierickx is at the helm.
50 years ago, the first man set foot on the moon. 'The Sound of M' will also be recorded in the annals with 315 artists from 15 countries and 20 concerts. All facets of the human voice, the playing human and the strong woman are again at the centre. Powerladies, not bon ton, but purely and simply because they are fantastically talented ladies in their field. 50 years Festival van Vlaanderen Mechelen, reason enough to make a special edition of it with on the one hand major crowd-pleasers and on the other hand bold choices for lesser-known artists. Divided into the opening party LUNALIA LIFT OFF with 20 extra mini concerts at various locations in the city.
Completely new is LUNALIA FOR KIDS, so a story and fairy tale circuit is woven through the Festival including the contemporary Sheherazade Polina Tserkassova and enjoy the magical music theatre of Alexandra Aerts.
In collaboration with Kunstencentrum nona, the series LUNALIA XS is further expanded with including the music theatre premiere 'Rainbow' by Nazanin Fakoor with a new composition by Iranian composer Aftab Darvishi (Tenso Young Composers Award), beats and stamina acrobatics by Lia Sahin, sound poets by Pluto Tomomi Adachi and Hannah Silva, new jazz and improvisation music by mós Ensemble and How Town and enchanting mermaid song and by IKI from the High North.
But LUNALIA also looks closer to home and brings together, in collaboration with Koor & Stem, the cream of Flemish choral music in the GREAT PARADE. The participating 12 choirs sing exclusively compositions by Flemish composers. Only condition: the choir must enjoy singing the composition!
Voice in residence
And not just anyone. Voice in residence is Reinoud Van Mechelen. He graduated in 2012 from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. His blitz career in the world of baroque music was rewarded in 2017 with the prestigious prize of the Association of the Belgian Music Press as young musician of the Year. Jelle Dierickx describes him as one of Belgium's greatest musical talents. He participates in 4 concerts starting with the opening party LUNALIA LIFT OFF, a total experience, a grand scenic concert with among others music by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Arvo Pärt, Astor Piazzolla and Johann Sebastian Bach. Then there is The Dublinn Gardens, linked to whisky (also found in Mechelen) and Ireland. In this, cheerful baroque music is combined with Irish folk music. With his former Dutch teacher and ex-poet of the nation Charles Ducal, Reinoud designs a special recital with music by Franz Liszt and poetry by Victor Hugo. He closes the Festival together with Anna Besson and their baroque ensemble a nocte temporis where he focuses on his great love for Mozart's oeuvre.
The Sound of M…. Something to look forward to.
- WHAT: Festival van Vlaanderen Mechelen 'Lunalia' – theme 'The Sound of M'
- WHEN & WHERE: from 27 April to 12 May 2019, multiple locations in Mechelen