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Tourism Wallonia - Brussels (Belgium) - The Official Website of the South of Belgium : On the Rhythm of Music

On the Rhythm of Music

Toots Thielemans
© Van Hulst - BITC

What is music? It brings colour to words, places, faces and things.
It is present at every celebration in Wallonia and Brussels. Not surprising in a country where an opera started the Revolution.
Music is the best way to discover Wallonia and Brussels. Between the notes, the rhythms and refrains you can perfectly discover what makes this country tick, its traditions, its moods, its influences and its musical mixtures that have left a mark on Belgian history.

Music of all types


Do you enjoy classical music? Then let me take you to the ROYAL MONNAIE THEATRE (BRUXELLES), one of the most coveted lyric “temples” of Europe.

A classic among classics: "Otello", "Parsifal" or "L'Orfeo" are staged among many other famous works. There is classical dance too: Classical concerts, and finally the dense programme of the Brussels Philharmonic Society. Bach, Händel, Debussy (...), all the great composers are honoured, together with less known repertories and music from around the world.

Moreover, unexpected are the festivals that give rhythm to the city all year round. The KLARAFESTIVAL - FLANDERS FESTIVAL BRUSSELS (BRUXELLES) schedules some 300 events well beyond the capital, whereas the FESTIVAL OF WALLONIA (WALLONIE) reveals its innovative character more and more every year.

And then, go and listen to ARS MUSICA (BRUXELLES), the contemporary music festival with its ever so intriguing sound. In April, discover the in the Sablon which brings out its glorious past.

The Muses are on the street


Music cannot wait for concert halls. It can be heard everywhere in the streets of Brussels. I will not only talk about the bands and celebrations that regularly take place in parks and on pavements but especially about the syncopated rhythms of Jazz. The evenings in May are swept away by the maddening notes of swing and the blues during the BRUSSELS JAZZ MARATHON (BRUXELLES) and continue on the sound of ethnical music at the COULEUR CAFE FESTIVAL (BRUXELLES).Jazzy Nights!

From the exits of the Underground to the terraces of cafés, through improvised stages outdoors, Brussels swings and fills my soul with a festive mood.

House Music
© BITC

Wallonia and Brussels are located at the crossroads of the European cultures. That's why they have been an exceptional musical melting-pot since the Middle Ages. From Roland de Lassus to José Van Dam, from Adolphe Sax to Toots Thielemans, from Gretry to Vieuxtemps, from Brel to Adamo or Maurane, the Belgian artists - composers or interpreters - become more creative and better. Their music abounds with landscapes, meadows, hamlets, forest, and art cities in Wallonia and Brussels.
Music brings joy to people's hearts and has allowed them to build profane and religious temples. With them, music opens the door of abbeys, operas and castles. Moreover, festivals bring people closer together.

BROSELLA FOLK & JAZZ
© I. Guillaume

  • SKODA JAZZ FESTIVAL (REGION BRUXELLOISE)
  • ARS MUSICA (BRUXELLES)
  • INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL ENCOUNTERS OF ENGHIEN (ENGHIEN)
  • 25th FESTIVAL VERDUR'ROCK (NAMUR)
  • 25th MUSIC FESTIVAL - BRUSSELS (REGION BRUXELLOISE)
  • BRUSSELS SUMMER FESTIVAL (EU'RITMIX) (BRUXELLES)
  • CHANTONS FRANCAIS ! (LET'S SING IN FRENCH !) (REGION BRUXELLOISE)
  • QUEEN ELISABETH OF BELGIUM INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION (BRUXELLES)

    • To get to know more about the Walloon and Brussels musical personalities, as well as the renowned places for their musical events.

    • Josquin Desprez (around 1440-1521)
    • Roland de Lassus (1532-1594)
    • André-Modeste Grétry (1741-1813)
    • Henry Vieuxtemps (1820-1881)
    • César Franck (1822-1890)
    • Eugène Ysaye (1858-1931)
    • Guillaume Lekeu (1870-1894)
    • Adolphe Sax (1814-1894) http://www.dinant.be/clindoeil/sax.htm

    Personalities: contemporaries, classical music

    Personalities: contemporaries, French songs

    Personalities: contemporaries, jazz

    Top-class locations and museums

    Concert locations: castles

    Religious concert locations

    Concert locations, centres...

    Useful Links in Brussels

    http://www.abconcerts.be
    http://www.agenda.be
    http://www.adac.be
    http://www.artagenda.be/magasin4/
    http://www.athanor.be
    http://www.botanique.be
    http://www.bozar.be
    http://www.brigittines.be
    http://www.cafebizon.com
    http://www.cathedralestmichel.be
    http://www.ccu.be
    http://www.centreculturel-auderghem.be.tf
    http://www.cirque-royal.org
    http://www.claridge.be
    http://www.conseildelamusique.be
    http://www.conservatoire.be
    http://www.flagey.be
    http://www.forestnational.be
    http://www.fuse.be
    http://www.halles.be
    http://www.kcb.be
    http://www.kunstenfestivaldesarts.be
    http://www.lamonnaie.be
    http://www.latentation.org
    http://www.lebelgica.be
    http://www.lecafecentral.com
    http://www.lejardindemasoeur.be
    http://www.lesrichesclaires.be
    http://www.llasbl.be
    http://www.mezzo.be
    http://www.mim.fgov.be
    http://www.mirano.be
    http://www.noctis.com/pablodisco/
    http://www.recyclart.be
    http://www.roseraie.org
    http://www.studio-athanor.be
    http://www.themusicvillage.com
    http://www.vaartkapoen.be
    http://www.vorstnationaal.be
    http://www.bellone.be
    http://www.montdesarts.be
    http://www.cyclone.be/travers
    http://www.nob-onb.be
    http://www.brusselsjazzmarathon.be
    http://www.brosella.be
    http://www.jacquesbrel.be
    http://www.zinneke.org
    http://www.fetelamusique.be
    http://www.couleurcafe.org

    Useful Links in Wallonia

    http://www.ccrc.be
    http://www.charleroi-culture.be
    http://www.lafabrique.be
    http://www.lecorto.be
    http://www.leforum.be
    http://www.maisonculturetournai.com
    http://www.orw.be
    http://www.polyphonic-cafe.be
    http://www.soundstation.be
    http://www.spiritof66.com
    http://www.wex.be
    http://www.acte3.be
    http://www.moderne.org
    http://www.soundstation.be
    http://ww.musique.namur.be
    http://www.musiquefollie.be.tf