Cultural Compass: Dazzling opera showcase and untold stories of Bruges
Every Sunday, Belga English picks its favourite events from the cultural agenda. This week: A new production of Der Freischütz leans into the absurd, Bruges offers VIP treatment and Belgian artist Berlinde De Bruyckere is the star at Bozar.
Der Freischütz, Opera Ghent, 19-27 February, & Opera Antwerp 8-22 March
The music of Der Freischütz carries the scent of German forests, where hunters raise their beer glasses in hearty celebration. At its core, Carl Maria von Weber’s opera tells a tale of love, community and the supernatural.
© OPERA BALLET VLAANDEREN
Swiss director Christoph Marthaler thinks the opera is ridiculous. "The story is simply absurd," he says. "Young Max wants to marry his beloved Agathe, but he can only do so if he passes a shooting test. It is almost obscene that you are not allowed to marry because you miss a shot.”
"I’ve always been drawn to characters you wouldn’t expect to meet"
Marthaler’s inspiration for this production stems from his fascination with insular communities like the hunters in Der Freischütz, who, he notes, are not so different from the solitary figures found in everyday life.
“I’ve always been drawn to characters you wouldn’t expect to meet - until you realise they’re just like the people you see every day. I found inspiration in the lonely men you find in brown cafés, sitting at their tables, staring into space. The moment one steps outside, gossip starts. When he returns, silence falls again. It’s a rhythm I’ve seen in both Swiss and Belgian bars.”
This darkly absurd production takes a bold step, reworking the opera’s ending - a choice that will either delight or divide purists.
Timeless Trails, Bruges
We all know Bruges and its major landmarks, but beyond the charming, albeit over-crowded footbridges and towering Belfy, there are untold stories waiting in less-visited estates around the city.
Three Bruges guides are unveiling a new concept that grants visitors rare access to exclusive, privately owned historical sites. They've curated a VIP experience that features eight locations filled with history, not selfie sticks. These spots, usually inaccessible to the public, offer a glimpse into the unexplored parts of Bruges' history.
“Many come to Bruges for its heritage, but much of it is in private hands,” explains guide David Serlet. “For two years, we’ve been working with owners willing to open their doors, allowing people to experience history first-hand.”
"Many come to Bruges for its heritage, but much of it is in private hands"
Among the hidden gems is Castle Ten Berghe, held by the same family for 18 generations, and Castle van Male, dating back to the 9th century. The former malt house of Brewery 't Hamerken has been transformed into lofts while preserving its industrial past, and a 19th-century mansion in the city centre now houses a bank.
The Adornesdomain, founded in the 15th century by the Genoese Adorno family, and the Hanseatic Kontor, once a vital trade hub, also feature on the tour. .
Berlinde De Bruyckere: Khorós, Bozar, Brussels, 21 February-31 August
Bozar presents a major solo exhibition of Belgian artist Berlinde De Bruyckere, showcasing her exploration of the human condition. Drawing on Christian iconography, classical mythology, Flemish masters and cultural traditions, De Bruyckere reinterprets these influences in a contemporary context by reflecting on suffering, violence, beauty and hope.
Titled Khorós, a reference to the choral performers in Greek tragedy, the exhibition spans 25 years of her work in dialogue with artists she considers "compagnons de route". Featured alongside her sculptures will be works by Lucas Cranach the Elder, Peter Buggenhout, Patti Smith and Pier Paolo Pasolini, among others.
For this exhibition, De Bruyckere incorporates centuries-old wooden beams and planks from the historic Prinsenhof site in Ghent, once home to the Counts of Flanders and the birthplace of Charles V. This reclaimed wood will serve as the pedestal for Arcangelo III, an imposing angel sculpture previously exhibited at the Venice Biennale.
OPER! AWARDS, La Monnaie, Brussels, 21 February
La Monnaie has been named the best opera house in the World by the OPER! AWARDS jury. The prestigious prize will be officially awarded during a gala at La Monnaie, where winners in 19 other categories will also be revealed.
Celebrate opera’s finest at this glamorous evening, walk the red carpet with the stars and then take a seat to watch their stunning performances. Four internationally acclaimed laureates will dazzle with their voices.
The show continues with the Symphony Orchestra and the Choir of La Monnaie. The programme includes arias from the great repertoire, along with pieces by Johann Strauss, Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi.
The OPER! AWARDS, Germany’s only publicly awarded international opera prizes, honour top artists on and off the stage in 20 categories, selected by a jury of specialist journalists.
(MOH)
#FlandersNewsService | Der Freischütz © PHOTO THEATER BASEL INGO HÖHN
Ongoing events
Antwerp
COMPASSION, MAS
Family Happiness, Red Star Line
Panamarenko: Infinite Imagination, KMKSA
Dürer: Master of the Renaissance, Museum De Reede
Brussels
Alechinsky, Pinceau Voyageur
René Magritte x Emily Mae Smith, Magritte Museum
Ghent
Alternative Narrative, MSK
Mechelen
Eternal Spring: Gardens and Tapestries in the Renaissance, Museum Hof van Busleyden
Ostend
Testerep, Venetian Galleries
More cultural coverage this week
