Happening 2026: Eclipse

those things are obvious which are invisible
those who have entered and have left unharmed
thoughts turned back into ink and paper
throwing light upon light
— Carolyn Forché, from: The Blue Hour

The Queen Elisabeth Hall will become the arena of a philosophical and musical exploration on Saturday 28 March 2026. Inspired by moments when our primary source of light temporarily disappears, we invite you to a journey of discovery in the shadows. Here we reach back to the core, to what remains hidden when everything is illuminated. The theme ‘Eclipse’ opens unexpected perspectives: dark periods can bring clarity, just as music speaks more powerfully when stripped of all context. It is a play of contrasts in which orchestra, voice and listener find a new focus.

The happening begins with a symposium, followed by a full symphonic evening that brings together works by Larcher, Debussy, Berio and Wagner. These incisive pieces of music push the theme of light and dark by delving deeper into ‘omission and reversal’. The evening culminates in a midnight concert with The Blue Hour, an introspective song cycle in which lyrics by Carolyn Forché and music by five female composers including Caroline Shaw explore the human condition.

This happening coincides with Earth Hour, when all the world's lights are extinguished for one hour. We subtly weave this collective act of stillness and awareness into the experience of listening in the dark. In short, a philosophical journey where light and dark come together in a unique harmony.

FESTIVAL OVERVIEW

18:15 — Symposium

20:00 — Evening concert 'Parsifal'

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra
Pierre Bleuse conductor
Bella Adamova mezzo soprano

Larcher Time (three movements for orchestra)
Debussy Jeux (poème dansé)
Berio Sequenza III for female voice
Wagner Parsifal Suite (constructed by Andrew Gourlay)

23:15 — Midnight concert 'The Blue Hour'

Strijkers van het Antwerp Symphony Orchestra
Bella Adamova mezzo soprano
Lisanne Soeterbroek concert master

Grimes, Negrón, Nova, Shaw en Kirkland Snider The Blue Hour

Tickets

• Symposium: free
• Evening concert:
  • tickets from €19
  • -30: €17
• MIdnight's Concert:
  • standard: €19
  • -30: €17

Order your day pass cheaply here: €28-€44