Belgian National Orchestra, Chauhan & Brimberg

About the Event

The “Echoes of Brussels” concert series jumps back and forth along the capital’s timeline, focusing on unforgettable works and personalities.

What happens when music doesn’t aim to impress, but dares to stir emotions? The great traditions break down, making way for something more authentic and deeply personal. In “Erwartung,” for which Jean Brusselmans designed the sets at the Palais des Beaux‐Arts, Arnold Schoenberg leaves all form behind. A woman, alone in the night, stumbles upon the lifeless body of her lover. What follows is an uninterrupted stream of emotions: confusion, fear, grief, and rage. Schönberg expands this single moment into a miniature novel of pure tension. Sung by soprano Ingela Brimberg, this monologue gives voice to a deeply turbulent inner world. In contrast, Richard Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll” is an intimate love gift, written for Cosima and her newborn. The notes are steeped in tenderness and domestic bliss, a rare moment of warmth. With the Adagio from his Tenth Symphony, Gustav Mahler arrives at a fragile conclusion. Farewell, doubt, and silence unfold here without compromise. Conductor Alpesh Chauhan adds subtle visual accents, lending the evening an additional layer of depth.