They start this Saturday (June 13) and continue on June 20 and 27, and July 4, at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels.
For the third consecutive year, this is organised by the Ars in Cathedrali association.
From noon to 12.45pm, the world famous 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 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.
The programme is here:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.”
Info:
Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula – St. Gudula Square – 1000 Brussels
Open from 11.30 am
Reservations: arsincathedrali@
Comments
2 responses to “Brussels to Host Four Highly Anticipated Johann Sebastian Bach Concerts”
-
Bach concerts in Brussels? How delightfully avant-garde! I mean, who doesn’t want to relive the 18th century while dodging tourists? 🎹😂
-
As if Brussels needed more reasons to show off, now we get to revel in Bach’s genius while sitting in a cathedral that might just make you feel closer to the heavens—if only the organist doesn’t hit a flat note! 🎹👌
-
Bach in a cathedral? Groundbreaking! Next, they’ll tell us they discovered fire. 🎹🔥 Let’s hope the organists can keep up with the maestro’s genius without setting off any alarms! 😆
Last News
Brussels to Host Four Highly Anticipated Johann Sebastian Bach Concerts
They start this Saturday (June 13) and continue on June 20 and 27, and July 4, at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels.
For the third consecutive year, this is organised by the Ars in Cathedrali association.
From noon to 12.45pm, the world famous German composer will be celebrated by organists Ben Van Nespen, Charlène Bertholet, Annelies Focquaert, and Momoyo Kokubu.
The conce
5 Things to Know About the EU’s Air Passenger Rights Reform Deal
Criteria for Extraordinary Circumstances
The criteria for extraordinary circumstances, where airlines are exempt from compensating passengers for disruptions beyond their control, have been updated.
EU policymakers determined
The Hidden Biodiversity Battle to Save Europe’s Forests
In Suonenjoki village, the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) is enveloped by pine forests. The soil fertility is low, making pine the dominant species.
However, within the campus nursery, genetic material from across Europe, including European larch, wild cherry, and Scots pine, is cultivated. This diversity effort is part of the EU-funded OptFORESTS research project.
Seedlings are pla
Call for Calm in Belfast Amid Violent Unrest
MEPs say protests such as those seen this week in Belfast “must remain peaceful and lawful.”
The message, from the ECR Group in the European Parliament, comes in the wake of violent disturbances in the Northern Irish city.
This follows clashes over consecutive nights between protestors and the police after a knife attack in the city.
Hadi Alodid, 30, originally from Sudan, appeared in court on W
Defense decoupling is no longer just a European fear — it’s Trump’s policy
Sri Lankan Community Participates in Intercultural Values Event at Milan’s Church of Scientology
Press ReleaseThis article is based on a press release or official communication from Wire News Service. The European Times republishes it as a public service.
KINGNEWSWIRE // PRESS RELEASE // An event in Milan emphasized dialogue, youth involvement, and shared ethical values through The Way to Happiness, the common-sense moral code penned by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
MILAN, Italy — 11
Record-Breaking Belgian Sailors Making More Waves
Two record-breaking intrepid Belgian sailors have revealed their next nautical target.
Quentin Debois, the first Belgian to set a record for a solo Atlantic crossing, aims to qualify for the 2028 Vendée Globe as skipper.
His sailing chum, Denis Van Weynbergh, the first Belgian to have completed this round-the-world race, will take on the role of team manager and co-skipper for the double-handed
EU Countries Approve Air Passenger Rights Reform Compromise
It requires airlines to provide passengers with “clear instructions on how to submit a request” for compensation for flights canceled or delayed by at least three hours, aiming to
European Envoys Test Moscow’s Openness to Ukraine Talks
The UK, France, and Germany ambassadors met with Russian officials in Moscow, advocating for talks between Russia and Ukraine, following European leaders’ support for a ceasefire and negotiations. This indicates Europe’s renewed effort to influence peace efforts,
Message to Kemi Badenoch: "Create Impact with Innovative Approaches to UK-Europe Relations"
It is difficult to see how the Europe question will not resurface once Labour has decided to politely thank Sir Keir Starmer for his work in making Labour re-electable after the lost Corbyn years but look for a new leader and prime minister who is a professional politician not a government legal manager who decided to go into politics as a retirement hobby.
In his latest batch of opinion polls
Leave a Reply