From October 17 to 22, De Munt organizes the inspiring festival The Time of Our Singing, an event where music, diversity and togetherness are central. In the heart of Brussels, this festival brings a varied program with concerts, performances, lectures and workshops. A celebration of cultural diversity, where the audience is encouraged to let their voices be heard together. This festival embraces the themes from the eponymous opera and offers a unique opportunity to be enriched by our differences.
Program Highlights
Thursday, October 17 – Opera & Dance Battles The festival kicks off with a spectacular musical confrontation between young talents from the MM Academy and De Munt's brass quintet. This exciting duel takes place on Muntplein from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The dancers take on the role of referee while the musicians battle with melodious outbursts and rhythmic swings. This is a free event that is guaranteed to get the audience moving.
Sholeh Rezazadeh & Ish Ait Hamou – Literary Meeting Two voices from different worlds come together in an illuminating conversation about identity and 'being mixed'. Dutch-Iranian writer Sholeh Rezazadeh and Belgian dancer and author Ish Ait Hamou share their personal stories and reflect on what it means to live between cultures. This meeting takes place in the Fioccozaal from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday, October 18 – Jan Michiels / Dedicatio I Pianist Jan Michiels performs Dedicatio I, a masterpiece by Belgian composer Kris Defoort. These nine "musical letters" combine influences from jazz and classical music and are brought together with pieces by Debussy, Chopin and Janáček. The concert is held in the Grand Foyer from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Music for a While The young musicians of Singing Molenbeek, Equinox and Young Belgian Strings bring an energetic concert full of traditional and classical pieces. With music by Vivaldi and Beethoven, among others, they present a concert that celebrates the power of youthful expression and musicality. This concert takes place in the Fioccozaal from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 19 – Inspiring Voices During a special tour of Muntschouwburg, the audience is taken through the stories of singers who overcame racism and discrimination to let their voices be heard. This musical journey through history emphasizes the struggle for diversity in the music world. The tours take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Songs for Social Justice Chœur Cassandra Koor gives a free open-air concert on Muntplein. From protest songs to French classics, the powerful voices of the choir call for social justice and inclusion. The concert lasts from 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Museum Night Fever Dive into a musical adventure during Museum Night Fever and discover the Muntateliers. Here you will be surprised by mini-concerts from all kinds of music genres, from classical to jazz and pop. This evening event runs from 7:00 p.m. to midnight.
Sunday, October 20 – One-Day Choir Whether you are a seasoned opera singer or just sing in the shower, everyone is welcome in this interactive workshop organized by Let's Zing Ensemble and Bozar. Here you discover the joy of singing together and explore your own voice. The workshop takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the ateliers of De Munt.
Let's Jam at the Opera! For young music lovers, there is a workshop in which children explore the different facets of music, from rhythms to sounds and styles. This event takes place from 2:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the ateliers of De Munt, while parents enjoy the Jazzy Afternoon.
A Jazzy Afternoon End the weekend with a relaxed jazz afternoon, where the Kris Defoort Trio and young talents from Interplay bring original compositions and improvisations. This musically free atmosphere takes place from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at De Munt.
With this versatile program, The Time of Our Singing invites everyone to celebrate together and participate in a celebration of inclusivity, creativity and singing together. Be inspired, surprised and connect with others during this unique festival!