Shostakovich has been called the last symphonist. He wrote his fifteenth symphony in the summer of 1971, shortly before his 65th birthday. Critics were unanimous in recognising the particular importance of this work, praising the richness of Shostakovichs ideas, his mastery as a composer and his intellect. In 1972, Viktor Derevianko and Mark Pekarsky made a colourful and interesting arrangement for piano trio and percussion. Remaining faithful to the original, it gained the approval of the composer himself.

06 October, 2016 21:00 -- amuz

In 2006, AMUZ opened its doors as a new concert hall in Antwerp. In the ten years since then, AMUZ has succeeded in reaching a large and diverse audience with concerts, festivals and educational activities, and in creating an international name for itself as the concert venue par excellence for historical performance practice over ten centuries of music. We are looking forward to celebrating our anniversary with you, our audience, which is why we are bringing several international musicians together on stage for a musical celebration: Huelgas Ensemble, Kris Verhelst, Pieter Theuns, Petra Somlai and Hana Blažíková. Enjoy the surprises at this very special anniversary concert.

08 October, 2016 21:00 -- amuz

Can a person be Happy Enough? What bliss lies in these words, which are also the title of the fifth movement of Kinderszenen by Robert Schumann. In this collection of thirteen short, poetic pieces, the composer takes himself and his listeners back into childhood. With a few subtle brush strokes, he evokes the many moods of a child. Old family photographs and films from the House of Alijns archive give the music an extra touch of nostalgia. This production is a spin-off from the childrens theatre production Gelukkig genoeg, now in a version for adults.

09 October, 2016 15:00 -- amuz

In 1884, Paul Verlaine published an anthology entitled Les poètes maudits. It is the definitive identification of a literary movement that was never meant to be one at all. Rejected, derided artists, drowning in drink and drugs, decadence and depravity, such as Verlaine, Rimbaud and Mallarmé gained an unsought following, inspiring countless other artists including composers such as Debussy, Hahn, Poulenc and Ravel. After her remarkable performance with Revue Blanche in November 2015, we knew we would be seeing the Belgian soprano Lore Binon again before long.

14 October, 2016 21:00 -- amuz

BachPlus combines cantatas by the great master Johann Sebastian Bach with those of two other masters, in a concert bursting with refreshing wonder. You will hear the particularly beautiful, religious Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis alongside a soprano cantata by Johann Kuhnau, Bachs predecessor at the Thomaskirche, and one of the best-known compositions by Johann Sebastians father-in-law, Johann Michael Bach.

16 October, 2016 15:00 -- amuz

In 17th century France, airs de cour a form of secular song were popular among all social classes. The favourite singers were the haute-contres (light, high tenors) with their distinguished, soft and clear voices. Stances du Cid brings together a selection of Charpentiers works with airs de cour by an earlier master of the genre, Michael Lambert. The programme also includes expressive, instrumental trio sonatas from the French Ancien Régime by François Couperin.

23 October, 2016 15:00 -- amuz