Life is better with Beethoven
Interview
This season we are launching a brand-new concert format: the Symphonic Dates. On Thursday evenings, in just one hour, presenter Thomas Vanderveken takes you behind the scenes of some of the greatest symphonies in the orchestral repertoire. On the program: Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony “From the New World” on October 30 and Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony “Pastoral” on April 9. But what does our host himself actually think of them?
By avoiding an overly evangelizing approach. Live classical music is unique: the craftsmanship, the richness, the creativity, and the depth it offers have no equivalent. And over time, only the masterpieces have survived: what wasn’t up to the mark has disappeared. I am convinced that everyone loves classical music… even if not everyone knows it yet.
With the Symphonic Dates, we break away from the somewhat rigid classical format.
We break away from the somewhat rigid classical format: the overture, the concerto, the symphony. The Belgian National Orchestra offers a one-hour concert focused on a single work. It’s a more flexible format, appealing to different audiences: parents, those who still want to go out for dinner afterward, or simply those who don’t feel like spending an entire afternoon or evening in the concert hall. At the start of each Symphonic Date, I give what I’d call a “stimulating introduction.” With the help of images and a touch of humor, I explore the context of the piece, the composer’s personality, the musical language, and I create links with our own time. The challenge is to convey the essentials in just ten minutes.
My father was an actor and director; he spent his time searching for music for his productions. At home, we had a large record collection, and classical music was part of it, among other genres. I started the violin at the age of four, then piano at five. That’s when the attraction was born, and at the conservatory it grew into a true passion.
Dvořák, absolutely. I was six years old when I discovered some of its themes in my piano book. My father then played me the orchestral version, and it was a shock: a magical moment I’ve never forgotten. Dvořák composed this symphony to win over the American public: he was then director of the New York Conservatory. He integrated themes inspired by Native American melodies, and the work immediately struck a wide chord. Beethoven’s Pastoral works in a similar way: it is a narrative work, bold for its time. Beethoven too pushed the boundaries of the symphony.
Beethoven's music inspires me to live better.
Listening to recordings, of course! But nothing can ever replace the emotion of a live concert. In a world saturated with distractions and fleeting content, experiencing music live remains a deeply moving experience. These works continue to speak to us, even today. Take Beethoven’s Pastoral: what does our relationship with nature mean today? This music may bring us closer to it and, for me, it inspires me to live better.
Impress your date or bring friends and colleagues for a unique afterwork at the very first Symphonic Date! Presenter Thomas Vanderveken will guide you with wit and charm through Dvořák’s iconic Ninth Symphony.
Impress your date or bring friends and colleagues for a unique afterwork at a Symphonic Date! Presenter Thomas Vanderveken will guide you with wit and charm through Beethoven's iconic Sixth Symphony.
