Inside the Music
Benvenuto Cellini

It's not every day that you get to experience the Brussels premiere of an opera by Berlioz! Shunned by audiences and critics when it was first performed, Benvenuto Cellini has never been staged at La Monnaie. Yet the score is brimming with musical qualities: monumental singing parts handled with precision, a structure that foreshadows the future developments of French opera, delightful melodies, and a rich use of the orchestra that was well ahead of its time... Like so many of the composer’s works, Benvenuto Cellini offers a richness that rewards taking the time to dive in.

And precisely this is the invitation of Ouri Bronchti, Head of Music at La Monnaie. He will let you discover all the secrets of this score through an accessible analysis, punctuated by excerpts performed live in our Grand Foyer.