Annual Report: reflection

Public outreach

In addition to its regular concerts, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra also develops a multidisciplinary fringe programme that is designed to offer its audience food for thought, while enhancing the concert experience.

In the first half of 2023, two exhibitions took place in the business lounge as part of 'Monument', the theme of season 2022-2023. First, photographs by Michiel Hendryckx were exhibited.  He took inspiration from the Queen Elisabeth Hall for this new series, portraying in his very own style some significant places from the hall's royal history and the history of classical concert life in Antwerp. Some artworks by Brussels artist Renato Nicolodi were also exhibited. In his paintings and concrete sculptures, he refers to archetypal monumental buildings, whose central, black void invites reflection.

As part of 'Vocation', the theme of season 2023-2024, artworks by Wannes van de Velde were exhibited in the business lounge. He was a true multi-talent. The general public knows him mainly as a chansonnier, but he also trained as a visual artist and left behind some beautiful works, which we were able to exhibit in our lounge during this season. 

During our series of lectures and reading groups, we delved further into the seasonal theme. Focus artists Nicolas Namoradze (pianist, composer and neuropsychologist) and Jeremy Denk (pianist and author), and Kurt van Eeghem (author and presenter) discussed (their) multitalents during an interactive lecture. In the reading groups, the audience delved into carefully selected literary works in groups and under the guidance of experts from De Groene Waterman.

Furthermore, we focused on multitalent in our own organisation. Concertmaster Lisanne Soeterbroek photographs major soloists who come to play with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra throughout the season. Each photo is added to an exhibition space, making it part of an exhibition that can be seen growing throughout the season.

Friends

Friends of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra are invited to unique activities that give them an idea of what is going on behind the scenes and on stage, such as a meet-and-greet with one of the soloists or conductor, a meeting with a musician, workshops, and talks. In 2023 they attended a tour of Wannes Van de Velde's study at the Museum Vleeshuis. Timpanist Pieterjan Vranckx took the Friends into the world of his instrument. They also got an exclusive presentation of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra's new cane cutting machine. Moreover, they got free access to the expo in the business with works by Renato Nicolodi, Michiel Hendryckx and Wannes Van de Velde.

Press

Mentions

In 2023, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra was mentioned 352 times in Belgian and foreign media - to the best of the orchestra's knowledge.

• 209x website
  79x newspaper
  48x radio
  14x magazine
  2x television
• National
  192x Flanders
  11x French-speaking Belgium
• International
  22x Netherlands
  126x other countries

Press quotes

La Orquesta Sinfónica de Amberes se presentó en Ibermúsica con un programa luminoso, de largo vuelo lírico y sentido del espectáculo. Empezó con la Obertura Ruslán y Ludmila, de Glinka, inicio lúcido de su segunda ópera con libreto nada menos que de Aleksandr Pushkin. El despliegue orquestal es el propio de cualquier cuento de hadas: hay colorido tímbrico, escalas vertiginosas y cotraste de atmósferas en la estructura interna tripartita de la pieza. Lectura colorista, expansiva de esta música que mezcla sabiamente el músculo con el virtusismo. Para la cuerda es un auténtico maratón, solventado con eficacia y con cambios de ritmo y cruces de arco bien previstos.

Beckmesser about the Barcelona concert, 25.02.2023

De Koningin Elisabethzaal klinkt overings als een klok en het orkest betoverde met een transparante kleurenrijkdom, al vanaf het eerste werk.

Pianist Magazine, 22.03.2024

Het aandachtige en genuanceerde spel van het orkest, met trefzekere en loepzuivere solistische inzetten van hout- en koperblazers, vormde een stevige muzikale basis en dynamische stuwing voor aria’s, ensembles en koren.

Opera Magazine, 7.05.2023

Een symfonieorkest dat in al haar muzikale gelaagdheid een concertzaal weet te vullen is een unieke gewaarwording, die iedereen minstens een keer in het leven meegemaakt zou moeten hebben.

Maxazine, 14.05.2023

The opening unison theme was a direct hit to the solar plexus, and from there on in the intensity never missed a beat. The long, long marching crescendo in the Allegretto was a masterclass of control and intent, with van Zweden taking his time meticulously to construct the obsessive machine that eventually consumes the entire orchestra with its braying bombast. The woodwind solos that give such poignancy to movements the composer originally titled “War”, “Reminiscence”, “Home” and “Victory” enjoyed an extra clarity of expression in the Queen Elisabeth Hall’s superlative acoustic.

 Bachtrack, 26.04.2023

Live recordings & broadcasts

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