If the answer is “yes,” try not to miss a series of four “Bach ad Meridiem” concerts on Saturdays, June 13, 20, 27, and July 4, at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels city centre.
For the third consecutive year, the Ars in Cathedrali association presents this series of organ concerts dedicated exclusively to Johann Sebastian Bach.
From noon to 12.45pm, the German composer will be celebrated by organists Ben Van Nespen, Charlène Bertholet, Annelies Focquaert, and Momoyo Kokubu.
The concerts will take place in the Cathedral Choir, where the organ built by Brussels organ builder Patrick Collon in 1977 is located. Baroque music, including, of course, that of Johann Sebastian Bach, sounds particularly good on this organ.
Too little known today, this instrument is inspired by the sound of the organs built during Bach’s time by Gottfried Silbermann (1683-1753), which are located in Saxony and Thuringia.
The “Bach ad Meridiem” series is a unique opportunity to hear the works of Bach on an instrument that truly does him justice.
- Saturday, June 13: Ben Van Nespen
Born in Antwerp, Van Nespen gave his first organ recital at the age of 15, performing the complete cycle “La Nativité du Seigneur” by Olivier Messiaen. He has received numerous awards, played with leading Baroque ensembles, and performed throughout most of Europe.
A soloist on both organ and harpsichord, he performs a wide repertoire spanning the 16th to the 21st centuries and has premiered several works by Flemish composers.
He has released several CDs recorded on historical organs. Since 2025, he has also taught harpsichord and basso continuo at the International Opera Academy in Ghent.
- Saturday, June 20: Charlène Bertholet
Pianist and organist Bertholet performs regularly in both disciplines, both in Belgium and throughout Europe. She participates in international festivals such as Toulouse les Orgues, L’Europe & l’Orgue in Maastricht, the Toul Bach Festival, and the Gothenburg International Organ Academy.
Since 2024, she has been a Young Ambassador for ECHO (European Cities of Historical Organ).
She performs both as a soloist and in ensembles and is a member of early music groups such as Ensemble Myosotis and the Komorebi Consort.
- Saturday, June 27: Annelies Focquaert
Focquaert graduated from organ school in Antwerp in 2001. In 2014, she defended her doctoral thesis in Arts on the life and work of the Belgian organist Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens at AUHA (University of Art and History).
She has been coordinator for ‘Het Orgel in Vlaanderen vzw’ (The Organ in Flanders) and research assistant at the Studiecentrum voor Vlaamse Muziek vzw (Center for Flemish Music). She teaches organ and harpsichord and, since 2015, has been the titular organist of St. George’s Church in Antwerp. Annelies performs in Belgium and many other European countries.
She also accompanies other soloists, choirs, and renowned ensembles on the organ or harmonium.
- Saturday, July 4: Momoyo Kokubu
Kokubu was born in Osaka, Japan. After Tokyo, she continued her studies in organ, harpsichord, piano, and early music at the Royal College of Music in London.
She moved to Belgium in 1995. She has won numerous international awards and was a finalist in the International Organ Competitions in Freiberg and Maastricht.
Momoyo is the titular organist of the Loret organ at the Church of Our Lady of Finistère in Brussels, where she has organized the “Organ Mondays” series since 2000. Momoyo has recorded six CDs of works by J.S. Bach and C. Franck, which have received awards for best recordings from the Japanese magazine “Record Geijyutsu.” Momoyo gives organ recitals in Europe, Japan, and Russia. She is a member of the
Comments
19 responses to “Are You a Bach Enthusiast?”
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Just what we needed, a Bach concert series in a cathedral—because who wouldn’t want to spend their Saturday lunchtime listening to 18th-century organ tunes? 🎶 Can’t wait for the next “Bach ad Meridiem” to compete with my favourite brunch spot! 🍽️
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Not that I need an excuse to hear Bach in a cathedral, but I suppose noon to 12:45 is the perfect time for a quick serenade before tackling the real business of the day—like deciding which café to hit up next. 🎶😏
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Couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday than listening to Bach at noon—because who doesn’t love mixing a little Baroque with their brunch? 🍽️🎶
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Fancy a midday Bach fix? Because nothing says “fun” like a 45-minute concert in a cathedral – just what my Saturday was missing! 🎶🙄
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Who knew that spending your Saturdays listening to Bach in a grand cathedral could be the pinnacle of excitement? I mean, why bother with a wild night out when you can revel in the dulcet tones of a 17th-century organ? 🎶🙄
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Bach, eh? Just what Brussels needs—more organ music to drown out the sound of traffic. 🎹 Who knew Saturdays could get this cultured?
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Bach enthusiasts, unite! Nothing says “a Saturday well spent” quite like an hour of organ music in a cathedral—because who wouldn’t want to bring some drama to their midday snooze? 🎹😴
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What a delightful way to spend a Saturday afternoon—listening to Bach in a cathedral while pretending you’re not just there for the free Wi-Fi. 🎶😏
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Isn’t it just splendid that we can gather in a cathedral to celebrate Bach while the rest of the world is busy with, I don’t know, actual fun? 🎹🙄 Can’t wait to watch the audience pretend they’re not just there for the free air conditioning!
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Nothing like a good dose of Bach to drown out the sound of your neighbor’s incessant accordion practice! 🎹🙄 Four Saturdays of organ music in a cathedral? What’s next, a symposium on how to perfect the art of staring at your watch while pretending to enjoy it?
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Bach fans, brace yourselves for an organ fest that’ll make your Sunday service feel like a rock concert. 🎹 Just what we need, another reason to sit in a cathedral and pretend we’re not really just here for the free pew! 😂
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Bach concerts at the cathedral? Well, isn’t that just the crème de la crème of weekend plans! 🎶 Can’t wait to see how many people pretend they know who Silbermann is while sipping on their overpriced lattes. 😂
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Bach concerts in a cathedral? How utterly original! Next, we’ll be suggesting that people visit the Louvre to see some paintings. 🎶😏
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Bach in a cathedral? How original! Next, they’ll be hosting a “Beethoven Brunch” while we’re at it. 🎹😏
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Bach in a cathedral? Brilliant! I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend their Saturday afternoon listening to a bunch of organists tickle the ivories while the rest of us are out enjoying a nice Belgian brew? 🍻🎶
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Bach on a Saturday noon? How avant-garde! Next, we’ll be discussing the merits of drinking tea with our crumpets while solving the mysteries of life. 🍵🎶
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Just what I needed, another excuse to sit in a cathedral on a Saturday listening to a bunch of folks play an organ—because clearly, the world needs more Baroque music! 🎶 Who knew noon could be so thrilling?
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Bach concerts in a cathedral? Oh, how original! Next, they’ll be hosting Beethoven in a bakery, and I can’t wait for the Mozart in the pub! 🎹🍺
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Just what Brussels needed—a Bach concert series to remind us the 18th century wasn’t all bad. Who knew organ music could be the perfect backdrop for a cheeky midday snooze? 😴🎹
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