Cultural Compass: Opera explores old and new, the history of maps and a festive light show

Every Sunday, Belga English picks its favourite events from the cultural agenda. This week: La Monnaie and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen turn classical topics on their head, how maps shape the world and botanical gardens illuminate the night.

Norma, until 31 December, La Monnaie, Brussels

Norma lives a life split in two. She is the revered voice of an occupied and increasingly militant people, yet she is also the secret lover of Pollione, the Roman commander they despise. Caught between loyalty to her community and forbidden love, she hides her children from her own people while desperately trying to prevent an uprising.

When Pollione decides to abandon her for the much younger Adalgisa, the fragile balance she has maintained collapses. Pulled between love, betrayal and a burning desire for revenge, Norma is forced to confront a final, devastating choice.

Composed during Vincenzo Bellini’s short but prolific life, Norma has become one of the cornerstones of the bel canto repertoire. Its most famous aria, Casta diva, is renowned for its lyrical beauty, yet the opera’s elegance conceals a dark and uncompromising tragedy. Beneath Bellini’s long, flowing melodies lies a story about obsession, exclusion and the destructive power of hatred.

Director Christophe Coppens’ staging brings these themes sharply into focus, presenting Norma as a woman crushed by the demands of a rigid and intolerant society. His production, first seen in 2021 but cut short by a final Covid lockdown, now finally has the chance to reach a wider audience.

Although Norma is traditionally set among Druids and Romans in ancient Gaul, Coppens moves away from this historical framework. He found that a literal reading of Druids as a religious sect added little to the emotional core of the story. Instead, he was drawn to the idea of closed communities that isolate themselves, cultivate fear of outsiders and fiercely protect their own values.

Without pointing to any single real-world example, Coppens keeps the setting deliberately ambiguous. What interests him is the anger, fear of the unfamiliar and resistance to openness that such groups embody. By doing so, he invites audiences to recognise echoes of their own societies, where rigid thinking and self-righteousness still too often divide people and exclude those who do not belong.

Mercator Leeft, until 4 January, MAP, Sint-Niklaas

Mercator Leeft (Mercator Lives) is the vibrant opening festival celebrating the launch of MAP – Mercator, the completely reimagined museum in Sint-Niklaas. This lively festival transforms the museum into an immersive cultural playground that explores how maps shape the world.

Mercator Leeft invites visitors of all ages to see, feel and interact with five centuries of cartographic history. Original globes, the world’s largest atlas and creative installations blend science, art and exploration.

The festival programme includes exhibitions, creative and educational workshops, guided tours, family treasure hunts and atmospheric nocturnes, making it much more than a traditional museum visit.

Operalab, 18 & 19 December, LOD music theatre, Ghent

With Operalab, the International Opera Academy (IOA) and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen are launching a laboratory for expression and innovation, where a new generation of opera artists prepares to take to the stage.

Twice a year, these young artists are immersed in iconic scenes from the opera repertoire during intensive project weeks. With young directors, coaches and conductors, they search for the beating heart of timeless music: what does it tell us today, and how can we bring it to life as honestly as possible?

In this first edition, the young singers delve into six opera scenes, from Falstaff to Carmen, without sets or costumes. What remains is the core of opera: voice, imagination and acting.

“The whole point of Operalab is to teach students a creative and spontaneous way of working. To achieve this, we go back to the essentials," says Kate Royal, a British soprano and coach at the IOA.

"In opera, so many elements compete for your attention, but in Operalab, we strip away all the excess. This forces students to focus on the core: truly understanding what they feel and think while singing."

Each scene is carefully chosen to suit the performers' voices and artistic challenges. The result is an evening that balances performance and experiment, a kind of docu-opera in which the singers not only play their roles but also reveal themselves. They step in and out of their characters, search for honesty and push against boundaries.

Floridylle Light Festival, until 4 January, Meise Botanical Garden

The 10th edition of the Floridylle light festival invites visitors to experience the gardens after dark in a celebration of light, nature and imagination. Created for the festive season, Floridylle has become a winter highlight.

This year, the trail is linked by a single narrative thread: the Big Bang and the formation of the Earth. Along a 3.5km route, visitors are guided through the evolution of life, from cosmic beginnings to today’s rich plant world.

More than 20 light installations are scattered through the gardens, drawing inspiration from plants and animals and transforming familiar landscapes into something otherworldly. Highlights include illuminated greenhouses, the elegant Balatkas, a fairy-tale forest and a video projection on the walls of the castle.

A bespoke soundtrack, composed by the Ghent-based production company Frontiera, accompanies the journey, enhancing the sense of immersion.

“Floridylle is an enchanting experience that adds a special touch to the festive season,” says Meise spokesperson Koen Es. “Enjoying the beauty of nature with a sense of wonder, that’s the message we want to convey.”

​​​​​​​​(MOH)

_{#FlandersNewsService | A scene from Opera Ballet Vlaanderen's Barzakh © PHOTO LAURA VAN SEVEREN / OBV}

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