From Monday 25 May to Saturday 30 May, the final of the Queen Elisabeth Competition Cello 2026 takes place. Each final evening, two finalists perform the required work, which was written especially for the final of this cello competition by Fang Man: Odes to the Tidings of Flowers. Each candidate performs as a second work a concerto of their choice with the Belgian National Orchestra, conducted by Antony Hermus. As has been the case for many years, the 'place to be' is the Henry Le Boeuf hall in the Palais voor Schone Kunsten (Bozar).
Each final evening starts promptly at 20.15. Those who cannot be present can follow everything closely via the KEW website where everything is streamed live. You can also follow via the public broadcasters
VRT (VRT Max, Klara), and RTBF (Musique 3).
While the applause is still ringing in the hall, you can read the findings on Klassiek Centraal per candidate.
After the final, an article with a general review of the course of the final week will follow, and you can expect an interview with the winner.
Monday 25 May
Maria Zaitseva
Fang Man - Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Henri Dutilleux - Tout un monde lointain
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Lionel Martin
Fang Man - Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Antonín Dvořák - Concerto n. 2 in b op. 104 B 191
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Tuesday 26 May
Yo Kitamura
Fang Man - Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Sergey Prokofiev - Sinfonia concertante op. 125
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Ivan Sendetsky
Fang Man - Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Dmitry Shostakovich - Concerto n. 1 in Es op. 107
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Wednesday 27 May
Ettore Pagano
Fang Man - Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Sergey Prokofiev - Sinfonia concertante op. 125
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Clara Dietlin
Fang Man - Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Sergey Prokofiev - Sinfonia concertante op. 125
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Thursday 28 May
Dilshod Narzillaev
Fang Man Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Dmitry Shostakovich Concerto n. 1 in Es op. 107
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Álvaro Lozano Cames
Fang Man Four - Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Dmitry Shostakovich - Concerto n. 1 in Es op. 107
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Friday 29 May
Leland Ko
Fang Man - Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Samuel Barber - Concerto in a op. 22
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Krzysztof Michalski
Fang Man - Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Dmitry Shostakovich - Concerto n. 1 in Es op. 107
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Saturday 30 May
Andrew Ilhoon Byun
Fang Man - Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Henri Dutilleux - Tout un monde lointain
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Tae-Yeon Kim
Fang Man - Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Witold Lutoslawski - Concerto
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
