The BNO unveils its 25*26 season: 'Embrace the passion'
Press release, News
Brussels, 19 May 2025 – While Bozar opens its 2025–26 season under the theme “Embrace Complexity,” the Belgian National Orchestra (BNO) invites you to dive into the heart of emotion with a season dedicated to passion.
Great masterpieces of the repertoire, vibrant contemporary creations, bold collaborations, and inspired soloists — the Belgian National Orchestra’s 2025–26 season embraces passion in all its forms. Through a rich and contrasting programme, the orchestra celebrates the intensity of major symphonic works while exploring new resonances with today’s world.
The Belgian National Orchestra (BNO) is the orchestra in residence at Bozar, and from the renowned Henry Le Bœuf Hall, it bridges tradition and innovation, blending both with classical repertoire and innovative formats. Thanks to a strengthened artistic collaboration with Bozar, the BNO can be found everywhere this season: with artist portraits of Julia Wolfe and Lea Desandre, as well as at the Bartók Festival, Klarafestival, Beats & Pieces, and in projects such as Staging the Concert. The new Start to Classic subscription, designed as a gateway into the world of classical music, is also a result of this dynamic partnership.
"Bozar’s music season will once again stand for international top quality across a wide range of musical genres. With an intensified collaboration with the Belgian National Orchestra, the new Bozar Bassment series, and a strong focus on storytelling through thematic programmes, the season introduces fresh impulses. Highlights include a variety of cross-genre projects where classical, jazz, global, and electronic music converge — as in the brand-new festival Beats & Pieces."
Bob Permentier has now been leading the BNO for over a year. His vision focuses on innovation, social relevance, and audience expansion. This season marks a turning point with the launch of several new initiatives. Among them, the BNO introduces Symphonic Dates, one-hour concerts without intermission, each featuring a major symphony introduced by presenter Thomas Vanderveken, who guides the audience with clear and engaging insights. Additionally, the Society Matters subscription is introduced, offering four concerts that explore current societal issues such as women's rights, innovation, repression, and climate change.
Big names will highlight the BNO season: Augustin Hadelich, Sergey Khachatryan, Joyce Yang, Thierry Escaich, Véronique Gens, Nemanja Radulović, Lukáš Vondráček and Fazıl Say. The latter will present the Belgian premiere of his composition Mother Earth. The Orchestra will also transcend genres by performing alongside high-profile artists like Scylla, who will showcase his songs in a unique orchestral version.
Next season, the BNO will shine in more than 70 concerts, not only in Brussels, but across Belgium (from Virton to Antwerp, including Namur, Charleroi, Louvain-la-Neuve, Liège, Saint-Vith, Hasselt, and Leuven). It will also perform in the world’s most prestigious venues: at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and the Philharmonie de Paris, the Kurhaus in Wiesbaden, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and even in South Korea, where the orchestra will embark on an ambitious tour in September 2025 with its chief conductor Antony Hermus and pianist HaeSun Paik.
The BNO is actively committed to making symphonic music accessible to young people. Each year, nearly 10,000 young people take part in its educational programmes, which cater to all ages, from kindergarten to higher education. Families also take part actively, especially in the highly popular Winter Concert, which brings together young and old alike.
Bozar launches its new 2025–26 season under the theme Embrace Complexity. In the music programme, this translates into grand orchestras and intimate portraits, centuries-old polyphony and cutting-edge electronics, contemporary voices and classical masterpieces... The 2025–26 season is all about connections in all their forms.
"Composers understand it all too well: not every combination results in harmony. Composition is the art of harmonizing and overcoming the dissonance between soloists, instruments, voices and keys. Differences lead to conflict. But those very distinctions are also a source of immense constructive potential. It’s the chemistry of a great concert, the interaction between the musicians and the audience."
The biggest names in the classical music world will take the stage at Bozar. We are proud to welcome the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano (04.10.2025) and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam (16.05.2026). Piano virtuoso Víkingur Ólafsson, star cellist Sol Gabetta (20.04.2026), and leading pianist Yuja Wang promise unforgettable evenings. Mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre, this season’s featured artist, will shine in four diverse productions, including a gala concert with the Belgian National Orchestra (13.05.2026) and a tribute to Julie Andrews (13.06.2026).
The baroque repertoire will be showcased in all its emotional richness, with a special focus on George Frideric Handel. His masterpieces, from Messiah (17.12.2025) to Theodora (15.10.2025), will be brought to life by top ensembles such as Gli Angeli Genève and the Jupiter Ensemble. For the family performance Jupi, and in new arrangements by jazz musicians Philippe Thuriot and Hendrik Lasure, Handel serves as inspiration for innovative creations.
Contemporary music this season highlights the work of composer Julia Wolfe, whose pieces Fire in my mouth (27.02.2026) and Anthracite Fields (08.05.2026) resonate with poignant stories from American history in the form of powerful oratorios. The cross-genre festival Beats & Pieces (15–18.01.2026) brings together percussion, electronic sounds, and spoken word in a four-day celebration featuring artists such as Mark Guiliana, Mohammad Reza Mortazavi, Ryoji Ikeda, and Colin Currie.
Nadia Boulanger—renowned pedagogue, keyboardist, and conductor—taught Copland, Piazzolla, Glass, and hundreds of others. She will be honoured on International Women’s Day (08.03.2026) with a three-part tribute: an ambitious organ concert by the Belgian National Orchestra and an intimate song recital with Lucile Richardot and Anne de Fornel.
Bozar also invites audiences to reflect on the 20th century through the series Echoes of the 20th Century, which highlights key moments from the modernist repertoire, including Le Sacre du Printemps (20.04.2026), Le Noir de l’Étoile (16.01.2026), Gay Guerilla (19.05.2026), and more.
Fans of electronic music can look forward to the brand-new Bozar Bassment concert series, an ambient music portrait of sound artist Fennesz (26.02.2026), and the high-energy Abrupt Festival.
Ancient polyphony will resonate in monumental Brussels churches, with performances by Graindelavoix, La Fonte Musica, and Fieri Consort. Multidisciplinary productions will merge live music and choreography, as seen in collaborations such as Saburo Teshigawara & Vox Luminis (31.01.2026) and ECCE & Ictus (13.02.2026).
Bozar also remains the go-to venue for top artists across musical genres: Kae Tempest (12.10.2025), Brad Mehldau (19.03.2026) and Shahram Nazeri (14.11.2025) bring their unique voices to Brussels.
Finally, Bozar once again presents innovative concert formats such as Staging the Concert, featuring Radouan Mriziga (18.09.2025) and Ann Veronica Janssens (19.06.2026), and Concert Croissant, following its successful launch this season.
More information on Bozar's website.
Bozar and the Belgian National Orchestra are developing a state-of-the-art rehearsal space in the building opposite, on Ravensteinstraat. This new facility will replace the old, cramped rehearsal space with limited acoustic qualities. With an investment of €4,266,107.65 (mainly funded by Beliris, with partial support from BNO), a modern, spacious, and acoustically optimized environment is being created.
The new rehearsal hall will closely mirror the Henry Le Bœuf Hall in both size and layout, allowing rehearsals to take place in nearly identical conditions to actual performances. This dedicated space will provide BNO with more rehearsal time while reducing logistical costs.
Designed by DRDH Architects in collaboration with Arup and the technical office RCR, the project optimizes natural acoustics by tripling the room volume and using reflective plaster panels, adjustable acoustic curtains, and a flexible flat-floor stage. As a result, the BNO will be able to rehearse under performance-like conditions.
In addition to the rehearsal space itself, new dressing rooms, artist lounges, and technical facilities will be added. Special attention is being paid to accessibility and evacuation: the space will offer step-free access and be reachable via an upgraded circulation route. Besides rehearsals, the hall can also host chamber music concerts or public events with a capacity of up to 200 people.
The completion is scheduled for autumn 2025.
"The Atelier BNO, whose renovation will soon be completed, will provide our orchestra with an inspiring and functional workspace. This transformation marks an important milestone in our history and goes hand in hand with a strengthened collaboration with Bozar. We are proud to bring this partnership to life through a carefully co-curated 2025–26 season — rich in synergies and exceptional musical moments."
In March 2024, Bozar began renovation works on Hall M.
The former Chamber Music Hall in the Centre for Fine Arts is undergoing a complete transformation, focusing both on technical infrastructure and audience experience. The renovation, with a total cost of €11,741,820.50, is made possible through funding from Beliris—which contributes the largest share—alongside the Buildings Agency and Bozar itself.
Under the direction of Pierre Hebbelinck Atelier d’Architecture, supported by Artsceno, Kahle Acoustics, and Arcadis, the works include the renewal of outdated stage equipment and technical systems such as HVAC, lighting, sound, and projection. A redesigned seating tribune with a steeper incline will significantly improve the connection between artists and audience, while maintaining the current capacity (471 seats and 5 wheelchair spaces). The acoustics of the hall will be optimized, both within the space and in terms of sound insulation. Combined with modern climate control, this ensures optimal comfort for performers and visitors alike.
Accessibility is also being improved, with the integration of five fully accessible wheelchair spaces. A unique feature of the renovation is the exposure of the original concrete structure by Victor Horta, in accordance with the architect’s original vision.
The completion of Hall M is scheduled for spring 2026.
"We are proud to contribute to the renovation of Hall M and the construction of the BNO rehearsal space, helping to enhance the cultural offering of our capital."
Starting in the summer of 2025, Bozar’s Henry Le Bœuf Hall will be equipped with a new, state-of-the-art sound system.
Bozar is investing in a high-tech audio ecosystem from L-Acoustics, a world-leading brand in professional sound reinforcement. At the heart of this new system are two groundbreaking technologies: the L2D speakers, which combine exceptional sound pressure levels with compact size, and the L-ISA Processor, an advanced tool for spatial audio processing. Together, they enable a so-called frontal hyperrealistic spatialisation, where sound is projected in a wide and layered way across the stage—departing from the traditional left-right ‘line array’ setup.
With this installation, Bozar aligns itself with the highest international standards in sound quality and audience experience. The technical specifications are available upon request.
This Digital@Bozar project is funded through the Belgian Recovery and Resilience Plan, as part of Next Generation EU. The total cost amounts to €800,000 excluding VAT, including technical equipment worth €240,000 excluding VAT (such as a mixing console, monitors, and microphones).
