From 18 September to 4 October, Musica Divina resonates once more in abbeys, churches and beguinages in the Kempen. Heavenly sounds, moments of stillness and a subtle interweaving of music and the art of living take centre stage in this new edition. The festival opens a window to timelessness and invites profound reflection.
Festive opening in yellow – the nine worlds of musica divina visualised
The starting shot sounds already on 16 September in the Library of Geel with the exhibition The Nine Worlds of Musica Divina in Image. Visual artist Emilie Lauwers has created marvellous mini-universes since 2017 that gave the festival its own visual soul each time. For the first time, these universes are brought together in an overview exhibition.
[embed]https://vimeo.com/1087997775?fl=pl&fe=sh[/embed]First festival weekend
On 18 September, the abbey church of Tongerlo is filled by the Swiss ensemble Voces Suaves. With The Song of Songs they pay homage to Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525–1594) on the occasion of his 500th birthday. In addition to madrigals and fragments from his monumental musical setting of the Song of Songs, Missa sex vocum supra Vestiva i colli by Philippus de Monte (1521–1603) also resounds.
On 19 September, the Abbey of Averbode opens its doors for an evening of literature and music. At 18.30 hours, author Erwin Mortier (1965) reads from Een kleine liefde voor de wereld (2024), a book that is one of the sources of inspiration for Musica Divina 2025. At 20 hours, the German ensemble VocaMe lets the mystical poetry of Hadewijch (13th century) resound in their latest programme Hadewijch en de Minne. The ensemble continues their series of musical portraits of influential women such as Kassia, Christine de Pizan and Hildegard von Bingen. Hadewijch's quest for insight, life and all-encompassing love is thus made relevant once again.
On 20 September, an intimate recital follows in the Abbey of Postel, which is now completely sold out. Countertenor Pieter De Praetere and lutenist Thomas Langlois present a selection from English and Italian baroque, with music by Henry Purcell (1659–1695), John Dowland (1563–1626), Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759), Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741), Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger (ca. 1580–1651) and Nicola Porpora (1686–1768).
Moment of reflection and feeling with Huis Perrekes
On 21 September, the Sint-Luciakerk of Oosterlo is dedicated to a special gathering, organised in collaboration with Huis Perrekes. This second moment of reflection and feeling around grief, love and the art of living brings together music, silence and encounter.
From 10.30 hours onwards, among others Virginie Platteau, lutenist Sofie Vanden Eynde, Manten Van Gils, writer Carla Molenberghs, the house choir De Betties and the new Ardentis Quartet (cellos) contribute to this warm and connecting event. Admission is free.