Mozart brings us together!
WELCOME
The 4th Midsummer Mozartiade festival will take place this year from 30 June to 7 July, once again at Place des Martyrs in Brussels. This time, the festival puts the spotlight on Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Mozart's most successful opera during his lifetime. Come along to discover the first true masterpiece of German opera, as well as a troupe of exceptionally talented young professional singers, a theatre that lends itself perfectly to classical music and an oft-overlooked Belgian heritage site. This new opera production, a recital series with top-flight artists, free concerts on the square, cultural conferences in the bookshop... this summer’s festival will delight classical music lovers of all ages and all walks of life, from curious novices to committed connoisseurs.
Premiered on July 16, 1782 at Vienna’s Burgtheater, Die Entführung aus dem Serail was innovative, full of new ideas, the first true masterpiece of German opera. Hailed as a triumph from that opening night onwards, this brilliant Singspiel was to become Mozart's most popular work during his lifetime. It travelled all over Germany before pursuing a meteoric career throughout Europe. Despite the local domination of French opera, the work was finally appreciated for the first time in Brussels on 31 July 1829 at the Théâtre de la Monnaie, during a summer season given by a German company.
As for Mozart, he and his family sojourned in Brussels from 5 October to 15 November 1763. Two letters written by his father Leopold testify to visits to several emblematic sites, including the Town Hall, where the seven-year-old boy must also have witnessed alongside his father the wonders of the annual October fair. As well as the church Notre-Dame-de-la-Chapelle, where the pater familias was enraptured by the painting "Christ handing over the keys to Saint Peter", painted by Rubens for the tomb of Brueghel. After finally giving a great concert, attended by Governor Charles of Lorraine, they left Brussels for Paris "sadly taking leave of so many good friends".
The Mozarts visited Brussels a little more than a decade before the construction of Martyrs’ Square (1774-1776). On the other hand, they were "at home" here as they were still safely within the borders of the Habsburg Empire. But if Mozart came back today, could he find his way around the European capital? How would he feel to hear his music performed after all this time?
Join us from the June 30 to July 7, 2019 to discover more!
Your Amadeus & Co Team
Premiered on July 16, 1782 at Vienna’s Burgtheater, Die Entführung aus dem Serail was innovative, full of new ideas, the first true masterpiece of German opera. Hailed as a triumph from that opening night onwards, this brilliant Singspiel was to become Mozart's most popular work during his lifetime. It travelled all over Germany before pursuing a meteoric career throughout Europe. Despite the local domination of French opera, the work was finally appreciated for the first time in Brussels on 31 July 1829 at the Théâtre de la Monnaie, during a summer season given by a German company.
As for Mozart, he and his family sojourned in Brussels from 5 October to 15 November 1763. Two letters written by his father Leopold testify to visits to several emblematic sites, including the Town Hall, where the seven-year-old boy must also have witnessed alongside his father the wonders of the annual October fair. As well as the church Notre-Dame-de-la-Chapelle, where the pater familias was enraptured by the painting "Christ handing over the keys to Saint Peter", painted by Rubens for the tomb of Brueghel. After finally giving a great concert, attended by Governor Charles of Lorraine, they left Brussels for Paris "sadly taking leave of so many good friends".
The Mozarts visited Brussels a little more than a decade before the construction of Martyrs’ Square (1774-1776). On the other hand, they were "at home" here as they were still safely within the borders of the Habsburg Empire. But if Mozart came back today, could he find his way around the European capital? How would he feel to hear his music performed after all this time?
Join us from the June 30 to July 7, 2019 to discover more!
Your Amadeus & Co Team