KlaraFestival 2010

Classical music of the highest level, contemporary dance and film: that's the KlaraFestival 2010. Born in 1860, Gustav Mahler was controversial in his own time, but is venerated today as one of the most important artists of the 19th century "fin de siècle". For a full ten days, we will be exploring the legacy of this major composer through his relationship to his predecessors, contemporaries and successors. Here comes the Mahler Connection...

As you might expect from an international festival, this edition has much more in store for you. Among other things we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Concerto Köln with two very different concerts, the arrival of a raft of top vocal talents such as Simone Kermes, the world creation of the latest dance performance of Claire Croizé, the
presence of the world's best orchestras accompanying rare talents like Maurizio Pollini and the world premiere of a new quartet that goes by the name of Maeterlinck.

Add to this the mysterious Club K with Uri Caine, the great opening celebration "Big First Night" with free concerts in the Brussels train stations and the Cologne Hauptbahnhof, the eighth edition of Living Room Music in Brussels's Matonge district and in Koekelberg, and you'll just know that KlaraFestival 2010 is not to be missed.
Moreover, everything can be followed non-stop on the radio via Klara and Musiq3, in the printed press via De Standaard and La Libre Belgique, abroad via the European Broadcasting Union and online on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and at www.klarafestival.be.

Concerto Köln

During the KlaraFestival 2010, Concerto Köln is celebrating its 25th anniversary with three exclusive concerts with music from Mozart to Mahler. Highly esteemed throughout the world by both audiences and critics alike, this early music ensemble receives
an almost constant stream of recording awards.

Magistral voices

During this festival we will be spoiling you with worldfamous voices of today and tomorrow. The dazzling interpretations and vocal acrobatics of German coloratura soprano Simone Kermes are a delight for the ear. The young, British soprano Kate Royal will enthrall you with her dark timbre. Together with the Russian mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova she will be singing songs of Mahler and others.