Beethoven’s Legacy

Few contemporary composers embody the symphonic tradition as fully as Belgian composer Luc Brewaeys. He began writing his Eighth Symphony in 2004, but the work remained unfinished at the time of his death in 2015. Inspired by another iconic “Eighth” — Beethoven’s — Brewaeys envisioned his own as a true “orgy of sound,” in his own words. True to his style, the orchestration is lush, imaginative, and delightfully unconventional… bottles included! His close collaborator and former student Annelies Van Parys took on the challenge of completing the symphony’s final movement. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese art of kintsugi, she embraced the idea of highlighting the breaks — using golden seams to complete the work while honoring its original spirit.

The two “Eighths” — Beethoven’s and Brewaeys’ — are preceded by Jonathan Harvey’s 80 Breaths for Tokyo, a meditative piece inspired by Zen breathing practice: a moment of quiet stillness before the symphonic storm.

Thanks to the players of the National Lottery and to the Tax Shelter of the Federal Government of Belgium through Casa Kafka Pictures. The work of Annelies Van Parys is made possible with the support of the non-profit organisation Vlaamse Muziek en Musicus.