‘"Made in Berlin"’

Since his magnificent win at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2009, Ray Chen has won over the hearts of the Belgian public. The ever-charming Chen, in the spotlight at BOZAR with a portrait this season, has made many return visits to the capital since then. The violinist applies his staggering technique to, amongst others, Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata and the legendary Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe’s Sonata for two violins. The latter work unites Chen with Noah Bendix-Balgley, fellow finalist at the Queen Elisabeth Competition. It was on that occasion that the idea of one day working together was born. Last year it became reality for the two violinists as they founded the promising Made in Berlin quartet alongside soloists from the Berliner Philharmoniker. The group is making its Belgian debut in the context of Chen’s portrait.