Cultural Compass: Contemporary Winterreise, Ingmar Bergman opera, Moroccan Winter and more
Exhibitions, music, architecture, books, festivals… this is Belga English's pick of cultural activities in Flanders and Brussels, published every Sunday.
Muziektheater Transparant and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen team up for a powerful, reimagined take on Schubert’s iconic song cycle, Winterreise. This stirring piece explores the existential journey of a 77-year-old woman at a turning point in her life. Through her desires, demons and reflections, the performance delves into universal themes: the fleeting nature of life and the solace found in human connection.
Winterreise captures the essence of human existence that happens between birth and death. This theatrical concert transcends the traditional recital, blending music, visuals and contemporary influences into a bombastic production. Five versatile performers bring together classical, jazz and R&B elements, creating a rich and dynamic experience. Don’t miss the public performances on November 26 and 28.
© VIDEO OPERA BALLET VLAANDEREN
Ingmar Bergman’s iconic 1982 film Fanny and Alexander comes to life on the La Monnaie opera stage in a stunning adaptation by Swedish composer Mikael Karlsson and librettist Royce Vavrek. The Ekdahl family’s warmth and theatrical vibrance take centre stage, but tragedy soon shatters their world when young Fanny and Alexander lose their father and face the tyranny of their mother’s new husband, the authoritarian Bishop Vergérus.
Karlsson’s innovative score blends the acoustic richness of the La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra with immersive electronics, creating a hauntingly atmospheric experience. Conductor Ariane Matiakh, in her La Monnaie debut, leads a cast of 14 soloists, including stars Thomas Hampson and Anne Sofie von Otter.
Director Ivo Van Hove, a Bergman expert, collaborates with set designer Jan Versweyveld to craft a visually striking world where fantasy confronts harsh reality in a mesmerising hall of mirrors. Performances run from 1 to 19 December.
To mark the centenary of the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, Artcurial is hosting a remarkable auction, A Moroccan Winter. The sale features two exceptional rediscoveries by Jacques Majorelle: the only known modello for L'Aouache à Télouet and the masterpiece Bijoux Berbères from his celebrated Black Nudes series. Both works, preserved within families since their acquisition in the 1930s, showcase Majorelle’s artistic legacy.
Majorelle, a French painter born in Nancy, settled in Marrakech in 1924 and transformed a 1.6-hectare plot into the Jardin Majorelle, a botanical marvel of more than 300 plant species. This vibrant oasis inspired his iconic works, including the Nus Noirs, which celebrate Black beauty amid rich fabrics and lush gardens.
Artcurial will exhibit key pieces in Brussels, Paris and Milan from 20-26 November. The Brussels show takes place at Artcurial's venue at 5 Avenue Franklin Roosevelt.
Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens unveils two compelling exhibitions that celebrate artistic innovation across time and mediums on 17 November.
The first, Out of This World, features three connected solo presentations curated by Ory Dessau. At its heart is an exhibition of works by Blinky Palermo, a pivotal figure in 1960s and 70s European art. Palermo’s exploration of geometric abstraction and ready-made objects blurs the line between the mundane and the sublime, elevating everyday elements into poetic statements.
Complementing Palermo’s work is a sculptural installation by American artist Robert Grosvenor and an intervention by Belgian artist Luc Tuymans. Together, the trio examine how art navigates the boundaries between reality and abstraction, art and social reality and popular culture.
Simultaneously, the museum inaugurates its renovated annexe with Eloquent Formalism, showcasing highlights from the Andries-Vanlouwe Foundation’s collection.
This selection, curated by Nicolaus Schafhausen, emphasises the perceptual qualities of colour, line and texture over historical context. Anchored in Belgian art of the 1970s and 80s, the collection features works by Lucio Fontana, Léon Spilliaert, Mark Rothko and others, reflecting a belief in art’s universal language. Both exhibitions invite visitors to engage deeply with the interplay of form, meaning and artistic vision.
Additional cultural coverage from Belga this week: Historic first for Flemish film: Deaf actor takes lead role, Canon of Flanders now has a French translation, Linkin Park to headline Rock Werchter 2025, Winter Wonders returns to Brussels with French region as guest of honour, Magritte painting set to break auction record in New York next week
Ongoing events
Emile Claus: The Prince of Luminisim, Mudel Museum of Deinze
Alechinsky, Pinceau Voyageur
Cindy Sherman, ENSOR 2024, FOMU
Masquerade, Make-up and Ensor, MOMU
Ensor's States of Imagination, Plantin-Moretus Museum
In Your Wildest Dreams: Ensor Beyond Impressionism, KMKSA
Margaret of Parma, MOU
Alternative Narrative, MSK
Lucy McKenzie Super Palace, Z33
René Magritte X Emily Mae Smith, Magritte Museum
(MOH)
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