On 29 September 2025, the façade of La Monnaie will turn red for World Heart Day. With this symbolic gesture, our opera house joins a global movement raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases.
From Niagara Falls in Canada to the Pyramids of Egypt, iconic landmarks across the globe will light up in red on World Heart Day. La Monnaie is proud to contribute by bathing the theatre’s façade in red light.
In Belgium, this year’s campaign shines a spotlight on cardiomyopathies – a frequently overlooked group of heart diseases affecting 1 in 500 adults in our country and profoundly impacting both patients and their families. Thanks to initiatives such as Cardiomyopathies Matter, launched in 2024, awareness is growing around timely detection, improved care, and adapted policy measures.
On the occasion of the light projection, Cardiomyopathies Matter issues a clear call: do not ignore possible warning signs (fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, …) or symptoms that may be linked to heart conditions, and consult a doctor if in doubt – especially if there is a family history. Acting in time can save lives.
Professor Dr. Stefan Janssens, Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven:
“Let me be clear: a general population screening makes no sense, and we do not advocate for that. What we do support is a well-designed screening programme for younger at-risk individuals – in particular those with a genetic predisposition. It is equally crucial to develop a framework for first-degree relatives once a genetic diagnosis has been confirmed. At present, such a framework does not exist in our country.”
Christina Scheppelmann, General and Artistic Director of La Monnaie:
“Music comes from the heart, music speaks to the heart. And for both, it is essential never to miss a beat. That is why La Monnaie is committed to promoting good heart health for everyone.”
Adrien Devyver, RTBF presenter and ambassador:
“As someone passionate about sport and health in all their dimensions, it was only natural for me to join this wonderful campaign that places our hearts in the spotlight. We all know how important it is to take good care of this powerful yet vulnerable organ. I am honoured to contribute to this awareness day and to spread an essential message: let’s look after our hearts at every stage of life!”
Want to watch an opera from your living room? Now you can, thanks to VRT MAX! La Monnaie and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen are each offering three operas to watch for free for six months, with classics by Mozart and Verdi, and Kris Defoort’s The Time of Our Singing.
La Monnaie has received two nominations at the prestigious 2025 International Opera Awards, honoring the most impressive artistic performances and most innovative projects of the past opera season. Music Director Alain Altinoglu is in the running in the category ‘Best Conductor’, Eugene Onegin may be crowned ‘Best Recording’.
A bus ticket and… an aria, please! Thanks to a collaboration between La Monnaie and the Brussels public transport company (STIB/MIVB), some Brussels bus stops will be announced in song during the weekend of 21–22 September by singers from the MM Academy.
