Cathedral of Sound

The Bozar organ was damaged by a fire in 2021. But that won't stop us! This exceptional concert with Thierry Escaich, organist at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, places innovation at the heart of its programme by broadcasting live from Bozar the great organ of the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, featuring several breathtaking orchestral works. This concert is all the more symbolic as it takes place in the year of the 800th anniversary of Brussels' cathedral, an iconic monument of the city and the country.

About the programme

Stravinsky’s "Dumbarton Oaks" Concerto, composed during his Neoclassical period, draws inspiration from Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, creating a concerto for chamber orchestra where each instrument plays both soloist and accompanist.

Poulenc takes advantage of the organ’s powerful sound to offer a surprising concerto. Typically reserved for sacred music, the organ here steps into the role of soloist, just as a piano or violin would in a romantic concerto, sometimes even rivaling the orchestra.

Copland’s Symphony for Organ and Orchestra uses the organ in a more restrained yet modern way, offering a unique take on the instrument’s role.

The concert concludes with Fauré's Pelléas et Mélisande suite, its vivid and colorful themes wrapping up this celebration of 20th-century music.

Nadia Boulanger in the spotlight

This programme highlights Nadia Boulanger's influential legacy through the works of her friends, students and teachers. To mark International Women's Day, Bozar is organising a series of concerts and lectures focusing on this great composer who left her mark on the 20th century. See the programme for the day here.

Thanks to the players of the National Lottery and to the Tax Shelter of the Federal Government of Belgium through Casa Kafka Pictures.