Cultural Compass: Victorious pianists, modern take on Carmen and experiential artwork

Every Sunday, Belga English picks its favourite events from the cultural agenda. This week: Winners of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for piano take to the stage one final time, Carmen finds herself in a therapist’s office instead of a tobacco factory and a new installation uses miniature football players to represent the tree of life.

Queen Elisabeth Competition recitals, 4 and 5 June, Flagey, Brussels

​After the thrilling finale of the 2025 Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition, the six ranked and unranked laureates return to Flagey on Wednesday and Thursday for a final joint recital in Studio 4. These encore performances offer audiences a last opportunity to hear the exceptional talents that emerged from one of the world’s most prestigious and demanding music competitions.

^{Prokofiev Concerto n. 2 in G minor op. 16 | Nikola Meeuwsen © QUEEN ELISABETH COMPETITION}

Late on Saturday evening, Nikola Meeuwsen (the Netherlands) took the grand prize after his performance in the final playing Sergey Prokofiev' Concerto n. 2 in G minor op. 16 and this year's mandatory commissioned work for all the pianists, Music for the Heart by Belgian composer Kris Defoort. Wataru Hisasue (Japan) claimed second place with Camille Saint-Saëns's Concerto n. 2 in B flat major op. 83. Finally, Belgium's very own Valère Burnon Sergey thrilled the crowd with Rachmaninov's Concerto n. 3 in D minor op. 30.

The fourth, fifth and six places went to Arthur Hinnewinkel (France), Masaya Kamei (Japan) and Sergey Tanin (Russia) respectively.

Founded in 1937, the Queen Elisabeth Competition has long served as a launching pad for young violinists, pianists, singers and cellists poised for international careers. It plays a vital role in connecting rising stars with the world’s leading concert stages.

This year’s twelve piano finalists were selected from 24 semi-finalists. They spent a week in seclusion at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel preparing for the finals, where they performed alongside the Brussels Philharmonic under Kazushi Ono.

While the competition has concluded, laureate concerts continue across Belgium through the end of June, offering music lovers the chance to experience the brilliance of these young virtuosos live.

Carmen, 3-25 June, La Monnaie, Brussels

Passion, obsession, violence and death: Bizet’s classic Carmen never disappoints audiences looking for an exciting evening at the opera.

The setting for this opera is usually as recognisable as its music, however, this proudction directed by Dmitri Tcherniakov forgeos the familiar tobacco factory and bull fighting rings. Instead, he opts for a contemporary surroundings, a far cry from flamenco dresses and castagnettes, and places the action in a therapist’s office. Don José is the patient and the therapist parades a cast of characters in front of him to aid him in confronting his disturbances and engage in role emotional playing.

“Today, we need to believe in this story and understand how it relates to us,” says Tcherniakov. “This performance will speak about our equals: emotionally disillusioned, nourished with bitter experiences, filled with despair and irony. […] Modern man still prefers to stay in his comfort zone, to not be overcome with unbridled passion, to avoid the emotional drowning which has befallen famous historical characters since time immemorial.”

Unsurprisingly, this production is sold out, but those feeling lucky can put themselves on a waiting list and hope that the unpredictable spirit of Carmen chooses in their favour.

tree of life- the evolutionary clambering of the philosophical chimpanzee, until 31 December, Gallo-Roman Museum, Tongeren

This spatial installation by Belgian conceptual artist Mark Swysen, part of the MoMeNT arts festival, offers a poetic and critical reflection on the development of humanity, linking closely with the museum’s permanent collection.

At the heart of the installation is the “planetary box”, a 36 m² mirrored space featuring 50 miniature scenes and a glowing “tree of life” with an RNA helix at its core. Visitors are taken on a ten-minute journey from the Big Bang (or the Biblical “Let there be light”) to the 21st century, guided by a mix of stroboscopic light, sound and visual storytelling.

Swysen, who uses table football figures as stand-ins for humans, depicts key moments in human history: the discovery of fire, the birth of language and religion, agriculture, war, art, industrialisation and modern technology. One kicker figure stands in a mousetrap as a symbol of war; another is tangled in cables, representing digital overload. The journey ends with humans queuing beside extinct animals, an ominous nod to ecological collapse.

The scenography, developed with Atelier Leise, uses recyclable materials, reinforcing the installation’s environmental message. Trained as a biologist, Swysen eventually pursued art and has exhibited internationally in cities such as Brussels, Berlin and Havana.

Antwerp Design Week, 1-5 June, Antwerp

​Antwerp Design Week (ADW) is a compact celebration of big design ideas. Each June, the city transforms into an open-air platform for creativity, where over 80 Belgian and international brands welcome visitors into their own studios, showrooms and creative spaces. No booths, no noise, just meaningful encounters and a focus on connection over display.

^{© ANTWERP DESIGN WEEK}

Curated Design Lover Walks lead the interested through hotspots, hidden gems and inspiring ADW Discover Points across the city. At its heart, ADW champions Belgian design as a globally relevant force, blending local roots with international ambition. The spotlight also shines on emerging talent: “Young Creatives,” designers and brands in their first five years, are given space to showcase their vision to professionals and design lovers alike.

(MOH)

^{#FlandersNewsService | ​ Belgian pianist Valere Burnon pictured the semi-final of the 21st Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition at Flagey concert hall in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE}

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