LUNALIA LIFT OFF 2022
The Opening Celebration of the Festival of Flanders Mechelen
Lift Off! Sample Lunalia for free. The opening celebration in 2022 is a musical journey:
Mechelen «-» Teheran with Kiya Tabassian
Mechelen «-» Istanbul with Neva Özgen & Didem Başar
Mechelen «-» Beirut with Charbel Rouhana
Mechelen «-» Baluchistan with Reza Abaee & Hamin Honari
Mechelen «-» Montreal with Patrick Graham
Mechelen «-» London with Apsara & Matthew Shlomowitz (this concert has been cancelled due to illness)
Mechelen «-» Ghent with Kristien Ceuppens, Frank Nuyts & Piet Van Bockstal
Mechelen «-» Lisbon with Herman de Coninck & Thomas Eyskens
Mechelen «-» Byzantium with Gospodi
Mechelen «-» Everywhere with Bel Ayre
Join the top musicians of the Canadian ensemble Constantinople on an exploration of Mechelen. Their artistic leader, Kiya Tabassian, opens Lift Off with a solo in the high choir of St. Rumbold's Cathedral. Hear the Bosphorus in the auditorium of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre with kemençe player and composer Neva Özgen and master qanun player and composer Didem Başar. Then journey to Lebanon with oud player Charbel Rouhana. In Mechelen Cultural Centre, vielle player Reza Abaee and percussionist Hamin Honari introduce the Baluchistan region, which is now divided between Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. At nona arts centre, the percussionist Patrick Graham takes listeners to Montreal. His concert is also a foretaste of the mini-festival NoiseNoiseNoise that Lunalia co-presents with nona.
The name of the ensemble Constantinople is a reference to the former name of Istanbul. The sound of the Byzantine Empire and Slavic Orthodox music in general are also what fascinate the Gospodi ensemble, who can be heard twice in St. Rumbold's Cathedral. Besides this ancient music, you can also hear brand new music at the Lunalia Lift Off. Two compositions will be played for the very first time. Hear the oboe duo play Double, Double, Toil and Trouble by Frank Nuyts at nona and Matthew Shlomowitz’ Recorder Trio in the Church of the Sacred Heart. Both composers will also be present. Celebrate Frank Nuyts 65th birthday in style with a performance of his composition Heute ist unser by the Apsara trio.
Poetry by Mechelen’s own Herman de Coninck, 25 years after his passing in Lisbon, is also an essential aspect of the programme. Each concert will be preceded by one of his poems. His biographer, Thomas Eyskens, will also focus on De Coninck’s love of music at the Church of the Sacred Heart.
The musical journey will end with the project Songs of Travel by Bel Ayre. The ensemble aims to take a universal view of our desire to travel, with songs from every corner of the world.
30% musical Mechelen
30% voyage of discovery
40% family day out
