LA MONNAIE / DE MUNT

La Monnaie would like to dedicate this series of performances of the Requiem to Ukrainian citizens and children, victims of a ruthless aggressor intent on reducing a nation, a people, a tradition, a culture, a language and so much more to ‘nothingness’.

There’s the taste of America, and the taste of Scotland. There’s an almost tourist-board version of the green, pleasant land of Britain, and there’s the harsh war imagery of Britten’s Who are these children?. Stick with tenor Nicky Spence and pianist Dylan Perez, as they give some insights into their new recital programme, and the perils of not being able to wear wigs.

In 2022-23, La Monnaie will present a totally unplanned-for season programme in which Russian titles feature more prominently than ever. We are aware that this programme might well raise questions and perhaps even trigger discussion. But while this Russian cluster was not intentional, it provides us with an unexpected opportunity to endorse our intrinsic mission: to unite, federate and build bridges between people.

Biting Russian satire and glowing romance. Surprising new productions and long-awaited projects that can finally be premiered. The continuation of the symphonic jubilee concerts, but also of our Troika Dance programme. Behold the imaginative and polychrome 2022-23 season of La Monnaie, presented by its General and Artistic Director Peter de Caluwe.

The set and costume designer Rainer Sellmaier gave each of the three operas in Il trittico its own aesthetic universe. In this video, he explains from the stage his specific approach to the neo-noir vibe in the first piece, Il tabarro.

In Il trittico, the poetic black-and-white imagery of video designer Manuel Braun offers the audience a unique glimpse behind the walls of the convent in Suor Angelica. As we follow him during the shoot at the La Cambre Abbey, he explains how he intends to enrich Puccini's opera with his video designs.

In between rehearsals for Il trittico, we asked director Tobias Kratzer for his take on each of the three Puccini operas, and how, in all their diversity, he still manages to link them to each other. "I'm not going to give away all the surprises, but..."

The brief contents of the three operas, summarised by stage director Tobias Kratzer.

Thirty-four years after he took care of the world premiere of Philippe Boesmans' Trakl-Lieder as music director of La Monnaie, Sylvain Cambreling puts this impressive song cycle back on our bill. Time to dig up these delightful archive images, with our Symphony Orchestra during the rehearsals in 1988. 

The MM Academy offers students of one of Belgium’s conservatories and music colleges the opportunity to supplement their training with a professional internship in our chorus. They get the opportunity to take part in concerts and opera performances, to come into contact with professionals, to follow singing masterclasses, and to attend our public performances. Potential vocal soloists can enjoy further support as MM Soloist or MM Laureate.

Heard in movies as diverse as The Iron Lady, 2046 and Avengers: Age of Ultron, "Casta Diva" is one of the most famous arias (more precisely, a cavatina) in operatic history. But there is much more to Norma than this piece alone. The Italian conductor Sesto Quatrini explores five other unforgettable extracts.

A Brueghelian Brabantine or a cosmopolitan who personally knew Rimsky-Korsakov and James Ensor? A 'provincial musician' or an international composer who indulged in jazz and Poulenc, and whose operas were performed several times at La Monnaie? Learn all about the exceptional composer of the Nocturne.