In The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Czech-French author Milan Kundera delves into humanity’s quest for meaning, love, and freedom. Actor and theatremaker Yves De Pauw transforms Kundera’s evocative prose into a captivating performance, enriched by music tied to the author’s journey. Born in Brno, where Leoš Janáček found inspiration, Kundera later sought refuge in France, spending his final years in Paris – a city central to the life of composer Darius Milhaud. Experience an intimate concert by the wind players of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, blending literature and music in an homage to Kundera’s legacy.

Chamber music: The unbearable lightness of existence

AMUZ (Festival van Vlaanderen Antwerpen)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart introduced the Salzburg audience to his Sinfonia concertante at the age of twenty-two, blending symphony and concerto elements. The piece showcases rich harmonies, emotional depth, and a seamless integration of solo and orchestral instruments, foreshadowing his greatest masterpieces. Leaders of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra shine as soloists in this remarkable composition.

Saint-Saëns' 'Organ Symphony'

Queen Elisabeth Hall

Edward Elgar couldn't have chosen a better title for his Meditation, an orchestral prelude to his monumental choral work, The Light of Life. This brief orchestral piece serves as a captivating introduction to the two romantic masterpieces on the program. Armenian-American piano virtuoso Sergej Babajan tackles one of the most challenging piano works in musical history with Sergei Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto. The concerto shines with its rich melodies and harmonies, showcasing Rachmaninoff's mastery. Despite its brilliance, the concerto's minor key and overall atmosphere reveal the composer's fascination with mortality. Similarly, Camille Saint-Saëns expresses his fear of the end times in his Third Symphony, weaving the Dies Irae motif throughout the entire composition. Dubbed the Organ Symphony, it features a majestic instrument adding color and grandeur to the second movement and an unforgettable finale where organ and orchestra unleash their full power—a grand emotional experience not to be missed.

Fireworks at the piano with Rachmaninov 3

After the success of the family show The Four Seasons, concertmaster Lisanne Soeterbroek and narrator Freek De Craecker join forces once again for an unforgettable chamber music concert (in Dutch). Enter the colorful fantasy world of The Wizard of Oz, brought to life by the ensemble with musicians from the orchestra, set to the masterful sounds of Igor Stravinsky. The flamboyant Freek De Craecker gives L. Frank Baum's timeless story a contemporary twist. An essential experience for the whole family, starting from six years old!

Michaela Bužková

Events

Past events

May 3, 2026

Chamber music: The unbearable lightness of existence · Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Dec 15, 2024

Saint-Saëns' 'Organ Symphony' · Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Future and recently performed repertoire

Horn in Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds by Mozart

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Horn in Symphony No. 3 by Saint-Saëns

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Horn in String Quartet No. 12 by Dvořák

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Horn in Divertissement for Wind Quintet by Milhaud

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

About

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