Annual report 2023: Production
Symphonic Sound
In 2023, the musicians of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra performed several highlights from the symphonic repertoire, led by its own conductors, renowned guest conductors and world-class soloists. Together with chief conductor Elim Chan, the orchestra further specialised in the Russian repertoire, including Rachmaninov's Second Symphony and Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme (February 2023, in Antwerp and on Spanish tour), Stravinsky's The Firebird (August and September, in Antwerp and Amsterdam) and Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony (December 2023, in Antwerp and Dortmund).
Gustav Mahler's grand symphonies were also on the programme several times at the Queen Elisabeth Hall. Conducted by Eliahu Inbal, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra performed the Seventh (20.01.2023) and, with Jaap van Zweden at the baton, the magisterial Sixth resounded on 27.10.2023.
As conductor emeritus, Jaap leads the orchestra twice a season in the great symphonic repertoire; in 2023, Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony and Beethoven's Seventh Symphony were also on the programme (in Antwerp and Heerlen). Honorary conductor Philippe Herreweghe conducted Verdi's Requiem (April 2023, in Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels).
Flemish musical heritage
As a Flemish symphony orchestra and a recognised Arts Institution of the Flemish Community, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra is a proud ambassador of Flemish music. Through its recordings, concerts and composition commissions to Flemish composers, the orchestra actively contributes to the preservation, expansion and opening up of our valuable musical heritage. In its 2023 concerts, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra put on the programme a mix of musical heritage and new creations by local composers, with works by Joseph Ryelandt, Kris Defoort and Joseph Jongen.
Contemporary repertoire and creations
The Antwerp Symphony Orchestra keeps classical music - in the broadest sense of the word - very much alive. Not only do we pay tribute to the great masterpieces of history, we are also the driving force behind the creation of new compositions so that the orchestral repertoire becomes richer and talented composers are given the opportunity to go public with their creations.
Chief conductor Elim Chan premiered Anna Clyne's clarinet concerto Weathered, commissioned by Antwerp Symphony, in Belgium. None other than Martin Fröst signed present for the virtuoso solo part. Kevin John Edusei conducted the Belgian premiere of Samy Moussa's Elysium. John Adams' high-profile Scheherazade.2 also resonated in Belgium for the first time, performed by violinist Leila Josefowicz, to whom the work is dedicated. Furthermore, for Skrjabin's exciting Prométhée, Le poème du feu, Antwerp Symphony had a new lighting scenography designed.
Compositions from local composers are also frequently commissioned and supported by Antwerp Symphony: in 2023, for instance, Kris Defoort presented his Four Night Preludes, an exciting and characterful suite that spans his remarkable oeuvre. A new edition of SoundMine was also organised for young up-and-coming talent, a biennial workshop that culminates in the creation of several brand-new works. In addition, Prélude à une nuit américaine by Dutch composer Mathilde Wantenaar saw its Belgian premiere.
Finally, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra regularly performs crossover concerts, mixing contemporary repertoire with symphonic orchestra. In 2023, for instance, we welcomed living jazz legend Avishai Cohen, who travelled to Antwerp with his trio to perform a symphonic programme. The result was an irresistible evening of jazz on an orchestral scale.
Baroque highlights
In keeping with annual tradition, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra played a Baroque programme at the Christmas concert in St Charles Borromeo's Church, this year featuring music by Zelenka, Bach and Rameau. Bach's St John Passion and Goldberg Variations were also on the programme in 2023.
Moreover, in the series with international guest orchestras, we were pleased to welcome the Thomanerchor Leipzig (the choir where Johann Sebastian Bach himself was still Thomaskantor). The boys' choir performed Bach's Weihnachtsoratorium together with the Gewandhausorchester.
Flemish cultural ambassador
As a recognised Flemish Arts Institution, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra plays the most important venues in Flanders, and is also a Flemish cultural ambassador abroad.
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83x concerts in Flanders in 2023
54x Queen Elisabeth Hall, Antwerp
9x AMUZ, Antwerp
2x St. Charles Borromeo Church, Antwerp
2x Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp
2x Sint-Jansplein, Antwerp
8x Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Ghent
3x Palace of Fine Arts, Brussels
2x Concertgebouw, Bruges
1x CCHA, Hasselt -
14x concerts abroad in 2023
Netherlands
3x Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
1x TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
1x Theater Heerlen, Heerlen
1x Muziekgebouw Frits Philips, Eindhoven
France
1x Le Nouveau Siècle, Lille
Spain
1x Auditorio Nacional de Madrid
1x Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona
1x Palacio de Festivales, Santander
1x Auditorio de Zaragoza
Italy
2x Chiesa San Francesco, Asciano
Germany
1x Konzerthaus Dortmund
Touring Spain
In February, the orchestra embarked on a tour of Spain, making appearances in major concert halls in Madrid, Barcelona, Santander and Zaragoza. The orchestra there was led by chief conductor Elim Chan and was in the excellent company of top cellist Pablo Ferrández.
- Tue 21.02.2023 – 19:30
Madrid, Auditorio Nacional de Música - Wed 22.02.2023 – 20:00
Zaragoza, Auditorio de Zaragoza - Thu 23.02.2023 – 20:00
Barcelona, Palau de la Música Catalan - Fri 24.02.2023 – 19:30
Santander, Palacio de Festivales de Cantabria
Concert programme
Antwerp Symphony Orchestra
Elim Chan conductor
Pablo Ferrández cello
Glinka Ruslan and Lyudmila (overture)
Shostakovich Cello concerto No. 1 in Es, opus 107
Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet (selection from the suites)
Season dramaturgy
Each season, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra develops a purposeful programming around a seasonal theme. In 2022-2023, it was 'Monument' and was dedicated to the 125th anniversary year of our residence.
Season 2023-2024 was titled 'Vocation'. With that premise, this season the orchestra went in search of artists with a wealth of talents, each of whom sought and found their true vocation in it. Conductor-emeritus Jaap van Zweden began his career as a celebrated violin soloist. And honorary conductor Philippe Herreweghe once graduated as a psychiatrist. The three focus artists, who take centre stage in our seasonal programme each trimester, are also sound examples of this, each in their own way, as each of them combines artistic expressions across disciplines.
Seasonal happening: Synesthesia
One of the most unique collaborations of 2023 was the first seasonal happening Prometheus. Running on the theme of 'Synesthesia', Antwerp Symphony spent an evening exploring how different art forms can come together. For the performance of Skrjabin's Prométhée (le poème du feu), light artist Antoine Goldschmidt was commissioned to create a brand-new light choreography. Beforehand, the audience could delve deeper during the symposium, where several speakers delved into the work, the scenography and the phenomenon of synesthesia.
At midnight, we closed the happening with a Mindfulness Concert. In this session with exercises in mindfulness and, of course, his own piano playing, pianist and neuropsychologist Nicolas Namoradze made one aware of how to experience music on a fundamental level. The musical pieces were interspersed with talks and guided meditations.
Collaborations
Throughout the season, Antwerp Symphony collaborates with various artistic partners. Antwerp Symphony is the guardian of the total offering of classical programming in the Elisabeth Hall and in 2023 produced and presented a concert series with top international orchestras in collaboration with De Singel and Cofena. For the KID concerts and the theatre concert, 2023 collaborated with theatre companies Lazarus and the Roovers.
Each season, at least one joint production is performed with Collegium Vocale Gent. For other productions with choir, cooperation is established with Flemish and international professional and semi-professional choirs, such as the Flemish Radio Choir or the Choir and Children's Choir of Opera Ballet Flanders.
The youth orchestra cooperation and in particular the Youth Orchestra Flanders is a collaborative project with Brussels Philharmonic, Opera Ballet Flanders and Antwerp Symphony, supported by De Singel, Flagey and the Concertgebouw Brugge. In addition, Antwerp Symphony, in cooperation with Amaj Jong Symfonisch, oversees two projects each season with the Antwerp Youth Orchestra, in its own Queen Elisabeth Hall, for which there is intensive cooperation with the Antwerp colleges and university.
In terms of research and opening up Flemish musical heritage, Antwerp Symphony cooperates structurally with the Study Centre for Flemish Music. For contemporary Flemish repertoire, Antwerp Symphony collaborates with Matrix [Centre for New Music].
Europalia: Georgia
Every two years, europalia presents a multifaceted artistic programme around a country or a theme. For four months, in Belgium and the surrounding area, europalia and its rich network of cultural partners present a biennial with dozens of artistic and sociocultural projects that bring together visual arts, theatre, dance, performance, film, music, literature and debate and stimulate the exchange of ideas.
In 2023, europalia dedicated an arts festival to Georgia. This edition departed from the fascinating Georgian culture and artistic scenes of both the bustling capital Tbilisi and those of lesser-known cities and regions. Between 4 October 2023 and 14 January 2024, a rich programme of exhibitions, performances, concerts, film, dance and theatre performances and literature ran throughout Belgium. Antwerp Symphony Orchestra hosted two of the concerts in the programme, which were two of the biggest events in the entire festival.
