Close Encounter: Daphnis et Chloé

Join us for Close Encounters by the Brussels Philharmonic and get an exclusive look behind the scenes: experience a rehearsal from a truly unique spot—the stage stalls at Studio 4.

What will be rehearsed and who you will encounter: we can't tell you that yet – the rehearsal process is unpredictable. But one thing is certain: you will be at the heart of our symphonic world!

When the visionary choreographer Sergei Diaghilev asked him in 1909 to create a new work for Les Ballets Russes, the young Maurice Ravel chose to present an intense Greek love story with Daphnis et Chloé. Ravel’s approach—emphasizing color and atmosphere—initially met with misunderstanding and resistance. Yet even Stravinsky declared, “It is not only Ravel’s finest work but also one of the most beautiful masterpieces of French music.”

The inimitable Lever du jour stands as proof, where the dawn awakens in sound—from whispering wood tones and fresh bird calls to the passionate reunion of lovers at sunrise.

Passionate love also inspired Nadia Boulanger when she composed her Fantaisie variée pour piano et orchestre for Raoul Pugno, who was not only her teacher but, as would be revealed years after her death, also her lover.

Finally, Annelies Van Parys channeled her love for Europe into EUtopia: a work where despair and hope interlace, questioning whether Europe is merely a utopia or if Beethoven’s vision in “Alle Menschen werden Brüder” will ultimately prevail.