‘Merope with the Vilnius Chamber Choir Jauna Muzika – Catherine Graindorge & Guests’

For the opening night of the Les Nuits Botanique 2023, Le Botanique and Bozar present two outstanding Belgian projects. The Belgian-Lithuanian trio Merope invites the Jauna Muzika chamber choir, Vilnius 700th anniversary ambassador, for the world premiere of their new album Salos! In the first part of the evening, we invite you to dive into the bewitching and cinematic universe of violinist and composer Catherine Graindorge, who made her mark in the autumn of 2022 with an EP, The Dictator, produced with the participation of none other than Iggy Pop. The evening will be accompanied by the heavenly sounds of the Stroom.tv DJ’s (Ziggy Devriendt, …) before the show and during the intermission.​​​​​​​

Opening act: Catherine Graindorge & Guests​​​​​​​

Mexico, September 6, 1951. Under the influence of drugs and alcohol, William Burroughs accidentally kills his wife Joan with a revolver, while trying to imitate William Tell. In 1955, Allen Ginsberg wrote the poem A Dream Record, recounting a dream he had that was inspired by these events. He is in Mexico City, talking to Joan Burroughs, when, upon realizing that she is just a dream, he asks her: “Joan, what kind of knowledge have the dead? Can you still love mortal acquaintances? What do you remember of us?” Inspired by Ginsberg’s poem, Catherine Graindorge interrogates the dead herself, conversing with those who have made an impact on her life, whether they were intimate or distant. This turns the concert into a dreamlike journey, an extraordinary interaction between the artist and those who are no longer with us.

Catherine Graindorge violin, viola, harmonium
Simon Huw Jones voice
Pascal Humbert bass guitar, double bass
​​​​​​​Simon Ho harmonium, keyboard​​​​​​​

Main act: Merope with the Vilnius Chamber Choir Jauna Muzika

After Naktės, crowned “Best Belgian World Music Album” in 2018 by Klara, the Belgian-Lithuanian band Merope presents the world premiere of Salos, their fourth album, released in 2021 on the STROOM.tv and granvat labels. This poetic, meditative and enchanting album combines elements inspired by traditional Lithuanian music, electronic atmospheres and the 24 dreamlike voices of Jauna Muzika, a chamber choir from Vilnius, to form a hymn to nature and slowness. Lithuanian singer and kanklès player Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė, who has already performed under her own name at Bozar, returns this time with Merope – the trio she forms with guitarist Bert Cools and bansurî player Jean-Christophe Bonnafous – and with the Jauna Muzika choir!

​​​​​​​More info​​​​​​​​​​​​​​