‘Belgian National Orchestra & Chen’

To mark the Fête de la musique, American conductor Joshua Weilerstein takes the Belgian National Orchestra on a journey through three symphonic worlds. Concert Românesc (Romanian Concerto) reflects the interest of the Hungarian composer György Ligeti – born in Transylvania – in gypsy and traditional Romanian music. This early composition hints at the composer's later modernist style. Its dissonances led to it being banned after just one rehearsal. Piet Swerts, a composer from Tongeren, presents the world premiere of his cello concerto Sehnsucht, composed in 2021 and inspired by five photographs by Marie-Jo Lafontaine. The solo part is played by Chinese cellist Yibai Chen, second laureate of the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition. This festive concert concludes with an illustrious masterpiece by Beethoven: the Fifth Symphony. In four movements, Beethoven, and through him humanity, makes its way from darkness to light.