Singer

If one word defines this extraordinary evening with the world-renowned Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, it is passion. Under the fiery baton of Andrés Orozco-Estrada, the orchestra brings Robert Zuidam’s Orewoet – a contemporary work steeped in ardent desire – and Dvořák’s beloved Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World’ to life. The Middle Dutch term orewoet, meaning ‘passion,’ lies at the heart of Zuidam’s evocative composition. In contrast, Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony interweaves folk melodies and grand American vistas with a poignant longing for his Bohemian homeland, creating a universally emotional masterpiece. A concert where passion and longing are explored in all their depth, reaffirming the Concertgebouw Orchestra’s place among the world’s finest.

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & The New World

Queen Elisabeth Hall

In his Carnaval, a work for piano solo, Robert Schumann depicts various characters such as Pierrot and Harlequin as well as his fellow composers, such as Schubert, Chopin and Paganini. Maurice Ravel transcribed the rich colour palette of this imaginative piano work for the orchestra. The German composer Hans Zender also drew on Schumann’s work for inspiration. His famous Fantasie opus 17 served as a starting point for Zender’s Schumann-Fantasie, in which he combines the 19th and 20th centuries into one majestic orchestral work. In his Mysteries of the Macabre, György Ligeti pays an absurdist homage to his own career, replete with dark humour and exuberant cynicism, with a starring role for soprano Katrien Baerts. A unique experience and a treat for your eyes and ears!

Carnival and mystery

The vocal expressiveness and subtle brilliance of color with which Béla Bartók depicts the symbolically charged plot of the sinister Duke and Judith, who fearlessly uncovers his secrets, is unparalleled. The Konzerthaus will perform the brilliant score in a concentrated version for 15 instrumentalists, brilliantly arranged by the young Belgian composer Siebe Thijs. Open the doors for what is arguably the most gripping one-act opera in music history!

Soprano

Katrien Baerts

Events

Upcoming events

13 - 15 Nov, 2026

Duke Bluebeard's Castle · Konzerthaus Blaibach

Past events

Apr 16, 2026

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & The New World · Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Apr 19, 2024

Carnival and mystery · Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Future and recently performed repertoire

Judith in Bluebeard's Castle by Bartók

Konzerthaus Blaibach

Singer in Carnaval by Schumann

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Singer in Schumann-Phantasie by Zender

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Singer in Le Grand Macabre by Ligeti

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

About

Katrien Baerts hasn't added a bio