B2B folder Gent Festival of Flanders

Gent festival of flanders

International Music Festival gentfestival.be

17 Sept – 1 Oct 2016 1

The Festival in a nutshell “The Festival of Flanders in Ghent is one of the most important festivals of Europe” – Barbara Hendricks

Facts & Figures We are Music | We ♥ Ghent 60.000 visitors 180 concerts and 1500 artists 17.09 > 01.10.2016 59th edition Classical music | Dance World music | Nightlife Thanks to Ghent Festival of Flanders, the city of Ghent has been baptised “Creative City of Music” by UNESCO.

Ghent Festival of Flanders welcomed the biggest stars over the years:

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© Stad Gent

Ghent Festival of Flanders is an international music festival that dares to take artistic risks from a high-quality classical repertoire. Both in the main city of Ghent and in the rest of the province of East Flanders, the Festival acts as cement between different culture houses and between heritage and current events. It offers a surplus value as compared to what already exists and specialises in the expansion of audiences.

Barbara Hendricks, Jordi Savall, Jessye Norman, Julia Fischer, Thomas Hampson, Wiener Sängerknaben, Yo-Yo Ma, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Wim Vandekeybus, Barbara Hannigan, Sigiswald Kuijken, Angela Hewitt, … amongst many many others!

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This was Ghent Festival of Flanders in 2015 OdeGand

“Ghent - meeting point for living legends and stars of tomorrow!”

© Wouter Rawoens

A celebration of music on and along Ghent’s canals with more than 50 concerts of all genres, from tango to classical music by the world’s most respected artists.

Wunderkind Edgar Moreau, fadista Carolina, Ferran Savall, Brussels Philharmonic and an exquisite performance of West Side Story with a choreography of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui amongst others!

- Veerle Simoens

© Rudy Carlier

the Generation Project: master & young talent on stage Jordi Savall

© Rudy Carlier

Marco Rodrigues

© Christophe Vander Eecken

Spark - The Classical Band © Markus Berdux

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Bojan Cicic

© Evy Ottermans

On stage as well in 2015

Violinists Esther Yoo and Pierre Amoyal

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This was Ghent Festival of Flanders in 2015 “She dances pointe, leaps acrobatically like a deer, sings like an angel and fights like a man.”

- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Tetzlaff Quartet

Angela Hewitt

© Rudy Carlier

On stage as well in 2015

Barbara Hannigan

Double talented: Barbara Hannigan combines singing with conducting the LUDWIG Orchestra that is accompanying her.

© Georgia Bertazzi

Sabine Meyer © Thomas Rabsch

© Jules August

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Accattone

© Rudy Carlier

Thomas Hampson is one of the greatest and most requested baritones at the moment. He is able to move fluently between opera, operetta, musical and song. We were pleased to pair him up with our very own Belgian soprano Jodie Devos accompanied by the National Orchestra of Belgium.

© Wouter Rawoens

Exclusive Gala Night with Thomas Hampson, Jodie Devos and the National Orchestra of Belgium

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Festival Theme 2016: ROOTS

© Olivier Deschrijver

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In times long gone, music was passed on through singing. There was no system of notation, musical or otherwise. Songs grew from a community, from the people. The melodies travelled and every place they passed through affected it or even caused it to metamorphose. Or they were exchanged between the social classes, between clergy and nobility and the countryside and vice versa. Much later, mostly country borders had an effect, in search for identity and national pride.

Composers have eagerly used folk music over the centuries. They see it as an inexhaustible source of tunes and dancing, a tool of inspiration for a grand symphony or subtle chamber music. However, it is about much more than that.

Music leads the way to evolutions and revolutions, it is the cause and at the same time the consequence of big changes, it combines yesterday with today and tomorrow. It connects and rejects, it reflects and confronts. With music we get to the heart, in search of identity and stability.

Going back to folk music is exploring where we come from, who we are.

It is going on a quest for keystones close to ourselves, for elements that touch us more deeply than anything else. It is a search for our roots!

For the lively Ghent Festival, music is a great leverage to get to know our roots. Dive into the programme and discover a wide range of musical DNA. We dance the sirtaki, polka and the czardas. We discover Mahler’s link with a simple children’s song, what a boys’ choir meant to Haydn and why we repeatedly return to Bach.

Nevertheless, we go sing in Africa, explore America and celebrate in Ghent.

VEERLE SIMOENS, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR GHENT FESTIVAL OF FLANDERS

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CALENDAR 2016

Saturday 17 September OdeGand

Sunday 25 September Parklife

Sunday 18 September KidsOdeGand (5+)

Sunday 25 September

Monday 19 September Festive Opening Concert

Monday 26 September From The New World

Tuesday 20 September A Little Lunch Music

Tuesday 27 September The Generation Project

Tuesday 20 September Aimez-vous Bach?

Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Ton Koopman

Wednesday 21 September Almost Angels

Tuesday 27 September

Wednesday 21 September

De Vreemden (Die Fremden)

Thursday 29 September Now I Lay Me Down

Thursday 22 September

A Little Lunch Music

Thursday 29 September Festus

Thursday 22 September

De Vreemden (Die Fremden)

Friday 30 September Now I Lay Me Down

Vadim Repin & Beethoven Bonn Orchestra

Utopia Vocal Ensemble

Wiener Sängerknaben

NTGent & Asko | Schönberg

Chi-chi Nwanoku & Isata Kanneh-Mason NTGent & Asko | Schönberg

De Vreemden (Die Fremden) NTGent & Asko | Schönberg Anima Eterna Bruges

Pieter Wispelwey, Harriet Krijgh & Casco Phil

De Vreemden (Die Fremden) NTGent & Asko | Schönberg

Wednesday 28 September Greek Roots

Athens State Orchestra & Evgeni Bozhanov Into The Dark & Kaleidoskop Victoria Deluxe Into The Dark & Kaleidoskop

Thursday 22 September Sioen Plays Graceland

Friday 30 September Festus

Friday 23 September

Friday 30 September

Dance Performance Free Fall Compañía Sharon Fridman

Victoria Deluxe

Singing Saxes

Raschèr Quartet

Friday 23 September Leading Strings

Saturday 1 October Festus

Saturday 24 September

Festus

Saturday 1 October artbeat.

Saturday 24 September

De Vreemden (Die Fremden)

Apollon Musagète Quartet

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Victoria Deluxe NTGent & Asko | Schönberg

Victoria Deluxe

Info & tickets: www.gentfestival.be 11

Our events Sun 25.09 Parklife

OdeGand, the annual opener of the cultural season, is a celebration of music both on and alongside Ghent’s canals. Travel by boat from one concert to the next and enjoy top-notch concerts in various genres — from flamenco to jazz and classical music. One ticket grants you access 12

to all boats as well as to over 50 performances by some of the world’s most respected artists.

Don’t miss our breathtaking musical happening at Graslei and Korenlei later that night — and our magic bonfire is something you won’t forget in a hurry.

© Rudy Carlier

Sunday 25 September 2016 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Parkbos, Grand Noble, Kortrijksesteenweg, Sint-Denijs-Westrem Programme online on 25 August www.parklife.gent

© Wouter Van Vaerenbergh

Sat 17.09 OdeGand

Saturday 17 September 2016 1:00 – 11:00 p.m.

Downtown Ghent, various locations Programme online on 17 August www.odegand.be

© Thijs de Lange

“OdeGand is a concept that is the envy of many festivals both in Belgium and abroad.

It is often copied but never bettered.”

A music festival for families, foodies and friends! That’s Parklife, a one-day open-air festival in a park just outside the city centre. Lose your cares, take a deep breath and dive in to the music, cocktails and vegan burgers; or take a walk and discover a harpist behind a tree, hear the stunning voice of a soprano wafting through the air or take part in one of the music workshops!

Sat 1.10 artbeat.

An evening of classical music and beats mixed in with a nice big chunk of nightlife!

Expect a duel between a classically trained artist and a top DJ at a stunning location!

Come, explore — and let the night inspire you!

Saturday 1 October 2016 8:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.

Eskimo Factory Programme online end of August www.artbeat.gent

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Amazing orchestras Programme

Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Ton Koopman We have already lost count of the number of prizes that the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra have won for their numerous CD recordings: a couple of Edison Music Awards, the Gramophone Award, a Diapason d’Or… The great inspiration for this world-renowned orchestra is Ton Koopman, a prominent personality in the world of early music. Koopman has built an impressive CD catalogue as harpsichordist and organist, especially performing the music of Buxtehude and Bach.

Now Ton Koopman brings Bach to the Cathedral of Ghent: the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and their celebrated leader Ton Koopman are sure to create fireworks with a dazzling combination of Brandenburg Concertos and Orchestral Suites.

Programme

Monday 26 September 2016 – 8:30 p.m.

Floralies Hall, Ghent

Performance

Anima Eterna Bruges Jos Van Immerseel, conductor

© Alex Vanhee

A. Dvořák 'The Water Goblin', Symphonic Poem op. 107 Nocturne for string orchestra in B major, op. 40 Symphony no. 9 in E minor, op. 95 'From the New World'

J.S. Bach Orchestral Suite n° 3 in D major, BWV 1068 Sinfonia in D major, BWV 1045 Brandenburg Concerto n° 4 in G major, BWV 1049 Brandenburg Concerto n° 3 in G major, BWV 1048 Sinfonia from Cantata, BWV 42 Orchestral Suite n°4 in D major, BWV 1069

Performance

Tuesday 20 September 2016 – 8:00 p.m.

Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent

Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra Ton Koopman, conductor

Anima Eterna Bruges – From the New World Ghent Festival moves to a new location with particular appeal for the imagination: the Floralies Hall, where the scene is set for the orchestral power and beauty of Dvořák’s 9th Symphony.

Dvořák wrote his masterpiece in the United States, where he completely immersed himself in the American culture and became familiar with the music of African-Americans and Native Americans, whilst simultaneously drawing on the folk music of his beloved homeland the Czech Republic.

Anima Eterna Bruges and Jos Van Immerseel bring Dvořák’s musical score to life. After their recent successful debut in Sydney and in New York, we are excited to see them take over the Floralies Hall with a canvas of sound, bursting with colour and energy!

Athens State Orchestra – Greek Roots

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Programme

L. van Beethoven - Overture ‘The Ruins of Athens’, op. 113 G. Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue N. Skalkottas - 5 Greek dances M. Theodorakis - Suite ‘Zorba The Greek’ Wednesday 28 September 2016 – 8:30 p.m.

De Bijloke Music Centre, Ghent

© Gerrit Schreur

For the first time at the Ghent Festival: the Athens State Orchestra!

The orchestra plays a leading role as ambassador for the works of Greek composers. The Athens State Orchestra is musical partner to composer and living legend Mikis Theodorakis. The orchestra will perform his striking suite Zorba the Greek along with Greek Dances by Nikolaos Skalkottas. Popular music from the birthplace of Western civilization is set on a collision course between the Old World and the New, with what can only be described as the American counterpart: George Gershwin. Pianist Evgeni Bozhanov, laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition, performs with the orchestra in Gershwin’s popular Rhapsody in Blue.

An entertaining exploration of roots and tradition, this is a concert that will resonate for a long time!

Performance

Evgeni Bozhanov, piano Athens State Orchestra Stefanos Tsialis, conductor

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Adventurous choice Chi-chi Nwanoku & Isata Kanneh-Mason — A Little Lunch Music

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Programme

S. Akpabot, D. Dragonetti, F. Baines, H. Harty, J. Leandre, G. Bottesini, ...

Performance

Thursday 22 September 2016 12:30 p.m.

Handelsbeurs Concert Hall, Ghent

© Ladislav Zajac

Chi-chi Nwanoku, double bass Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano

Into the Dark — Now I Lay me Down

© Marco Borggreve

Ghent Festival creates a new concept: combine your lunch with a wonderful concert!

Chi-chi Nwanoku has a strong reputation around the world as one of the most refined and passionate double bass players working today. She is a founder member and principal double bassist of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and proudly draws inspiration from her Nigerian and Irish roots.

Nwanoku also teaches double bass at the Royal Academy of Music in London and gives master classes all over the world. She is founder and muse of The Chineke!

Foundation, which aims to promote diversity in classical music.

For A Little Lunch Music — a new concept of Ghent Festival including a healthy lunch — Chi-chi and pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason will together perform a lively, folk-inspired programme with works by Joëlle Leandre, Francis Baines, Domenico Dragonetti and Giovanni Bottesini, among others.

Lights down, eyes shut: let the music begin!

We invite you to an unforgettable musical experience in the pitch black. Lay down on one of the 60 grass-covered beds for an extraordinary concert experience.

For their unique performance Now I Lay Me Down, the musicians of the Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop have collaborated with director Sabrina Hölzer. She founded the company Into The Dark in 2011 especially for this kind of concert in complete darkness. With the help of a movement coach who often works with the blind, the musicians have learned a sophisticated choreography that allows them to manoeuver themselves among the sixty beds.

Floating in time and space without visual stimuli, the music of Bach, Barber and Britten creates an intense and fabulous experience that may bring you closer to the music than ever before…

Thursday 29 & Friday 30 September 2016 6 p.m. & 9 p.m.

Handelsbeurs Concert Hall, Ghent

Programme

J.S. Bach, S. Barber, B. Britten, ...

Performance

Sabrina Hölzer, concept Into The Dark Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop

Production of Into The Dark in collaboration with Handelsbeurs Concert Hall and supported by the German Federal Cultural Foundation.

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Vienna Boys Choir

Apollon Musagète Quartet — Leading Strings

The choir has now been in existence for over 500 years and was originally connected to the royal court in Austria. They have worked with legendary composers such as Mozart, Haydn, Schubert and Bruckner.

Their musical programme in Ghent will be based on the music of Joseph Haydn, where the influence of gypsy music and of Austrian and Croatian folk music are never far away. Following composers have long drawn inspiration from his oeuvre.

Enjoy an impressive journey in the footsteps of Haydn!

© Lukas Beck

Ghent Festival is honoured to welcome the Vienna Boys Choir with their golden angelic voices in Saint Bavo’s Cathedral!

“Meet the young stars of tomorrow!”

Wednesday 21 September 2016 – 8:30 p.m.

Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent

Programme

J. Haydn, J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, R. Schumann, K. Kodály, ...

Performance

Vienna Boys Choir Jimmy Chiang, conductor

Six years ago, the international chamber music world was introduced to the Apollon Musagète Quartet. Ever since, the Polish ensemble has had the wind in its sails. In 2008, they won first prize at the International Music Competition of the ARD in Munich. They have since had successful tours (including one alongside Tori Amos) and they have given brilliant performances on several international concert stages.

The members of the quartet attach great importance to their Polish roots. They take pride in playing at least one piece by a Polish composer in each concert. In Ghent, this honour will go to composer Krzysztof Penderecki. We will also hear Anton Arensky’s beautiful Second Quartet and Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8, a milestone in 20th century music. Together they bring to their audiences expressive works with Eastern European roots and a strong emotional intonation.

Pieter Wispelwey & Harriet Krijgh — The Generation Project

Programme

A. Arensky – String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, opus 35 a K. Penderecki – String Quartet No. 3 D. Shostakovich – String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, opus 110

Performance

Apollon Musagète Quartet

G.P. Telemann - Ouverture des nations anciens et modernes in G major, TWV 55:G4 Z. Kodály - Sonata in B minor for cello solo, Op. 8 (Soloist: Pieter Wispelwey, cello) B. Bartók - Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 68, BB 76 A. Piazzolla - Libertango (Soloist: Harriet Krijgh, cello) M. Bruch - Kol Nidrei, Op. 47 (Soloist: Harriet Krijgh, cello) A. Vivaldi - Concerto for 2 cellos in G minor, RV 531 (Soloists: Pieter Wispelwey & Harriet Krijgh, cello)

greve Borg

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Friday 23 September 2016 8:15 p.m.

Handelsbeurs Concert Hall, Ghent

Programme

arco ©M

Brace yourself for The Generation Project: the story of an emerging talent and an internationally acclaimed star on stage together! For the second year of this project, our artistic director scouted young Harriet Krijgh, an enchanting and promising cellist. At her side we will be welcoming one of the world’s leading cellists, Pieter Wispelwey.

These two stellar performers have a thrilling programme in store for you, with some of the most beautiful works for cello. Harriet Krijgh chose Max Bruch’s moving Kol Nidrei and Piazzolla’s seductive Libertango while Pieter Wispelwey will perform Kodály’s magnificent Sonata.

The two cellists will join forces for Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto for two cellos, a delightful conclusion to this concert. And to top it all off, you’ll hear the warm, vibrant sound of the strings of Casco Phil, Tuesday 27 September 2016 – 8:30 p.m. the Chamber Orchestra of Belgium, conducted by Saint Michael’s Church, Ghent Frank Agsteribbe!

© Marco Borggreve

Stars of the future

Performance

Harriet Krijgh & Pieter Wispelwey, cello Casco Phil - The Chamber Orchestra of Belgium Frank Agsteribbe, conductor

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In search of our roots

Programme

J. Sibelius - Violin Concerto in D minor, op. 47 G. Mahler - Symfony n° 1 in D major, 'Titan'

Performance

Vadim Repin, violin Beethoven Bonn Orchestra Christof Perick, conductor

When Vadim Repin won the Queen Elisabeth Competition at the age of 17, it was written in the stars: this young man would go on to establish a golden career.

Many agree that Repin could be the most ‘complete’ violinist of his time…

For Ghent he chooses Jean Sibelius’ enchanting Violin Concerto, a work which draws you into the natural beauty of the Finnish landscape.

Repin shares the stage with the lively Beethoven Bonn Orchestra. They demonstrate their qualities with a performance of Gustav Mahler’s masterly First Symphony, a work filled with birdsong and awakening nature, folklore dances and marching. A landmark in musical history!

Monday 19 September 2016 – 8:30 p.m.

Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent

Programme

© Marco Borggreve

© Harald Hoffmann

Vadim Repin & Beethoven Bonn Orchestra

Dance performance with live music

Performance

Compañía Sharon Fridman Luis Miguel Cobo, conductor

Compañía Sharon Fridman — Dance performance Free Fall Ghent Festival presents an unexpected dance performance: Free Fall by the Israeli choreographer Sharon Fridman. The piece alludes to nature, which involves contact between different elements and relationships between various materials.

In Free Fall, Fridman lets six of his own dancers collaborate with twenty nonprofessional dancers he finds in the city where the dance is to be performed.

He hopes in this way to create a connection with the places he visits and as a result none of Free Fall’s performances are ever the same. Each city leaves its own impression — with its own culture, its character, and its unique way of life.

Especially for Ghent, Fridman adds live music with orchestral musicians who will become part of the human landscape.

Friday 23 September 2016 - 8:30 p.m.

Capitole, Ghent

Sioen plays Graceland

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Programme

Paul Simon - Graceland

Performance Thursday 22 September 2016 – 8:30 p.m.

Capitole, Ghent

© Sara Eechaut

Brimming with African grooves and upbeat rhythms in an eclectic mix of Western and ‘World’ musical styles, Paul Simon's album Graceland has earned its place in the pantheon of all-time albums.

We asked Sioen, our artist-in-residence over two years, to work on this remarkable record. Exclusively for Ghent Festival, he decided to follow Paul Simon’s example and work with South African singers.

We are looking forward to seeing how he transforms such legendary hits as Homeless, Boy in the Bubble and Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes!

Frederik Sioen & band, vocals, guitar, keys, bass, drums & percussion Rony Verbiest, accordion & saxophone N'Faly Kouyaté, marimba, kora & African percussion Soweto Vocal Quartet, vocals

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On stage as well in 2016

Ghent, sparkling city

Utopia Vocal Ensemble NTGent, Asko | Schönberg & Reinbert De Leeuw Victoria Deluxe Raschèr Saxophone QuarteT International Opera Academy amongst many others!

Asko | Schönberg

Victoria Deluxe

“Smack in the middle of Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp, Ghent distils their greatest attributes into one engaging and enchanting city” – Lonely Planet Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp & Ghent – Encounter

Raschèr Quartet

Why Ghent? © Steven Hendrix

• Because Lonely Planet has called our city “Europe’s best kept secret” and a must see destination. © Felix Broede

© Freddy Willems

© Gerrit Schreur

• Because National Geographic Traveler Magazine has listed this city as the most authentic historic city in the world ánd full of life.

• Because you must witness with your own eyes what Napoleon and the mysterious thief of ‘The Just Judges’ panel already knew: ‘The Mystic Lamb’ really is key to European art history.

• Because the city comes to life again after sunset.

• And of course because you like to get off the beaten track.

Public Funding

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…that’s why!

Tourist Information Visit Ghent - Inquiry Desk Oude Vismijn Sint-Veerleplein 5 - Ghent +32 (0)9 266 56 60 - www.visitgent.be Open: Mon-Sun 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

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Plan your trip to the festival Accommodation

Ghent Marriott Hotel **** Korenlei 10 +32 (0)9 233 93 93 www.marriottghent.com

Sandton Reylof Hotel **** Hoogstraat 36 +32 (0)9 235 40 70 www.sandton.eu/nl/gent

Getting here www.brusselsairport.com www.charleroi-airport.com www.thalys.com www.eurostar.com www.b-rail.be

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Concert venues

Novotel *** Goudenleeuwplein 5 +32 (0)9 293 90 02 www.accorhotels.com

Ibis **/*** Limburgstraat 2 + 32 (0)9 233 00 00 Nederkouter 24-26 +32 (0)9 225 07 07 www.ibishotel.com

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Saint Michael’s Church Sint-Michielsplein

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NTGent Sint-Baafsplein 17

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Saint Bavo’s Cathedral Sint-Baafsplein 4

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MIRY Concert Hall Biezekapelstraat 9

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Handelsbeurs Concert Hall Kouter 29

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Capitole Ghent Graaf Van Vlaanderenplein 5

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Floralies Hall Citadelpark

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De Bijloke Music Centre Jozef Kluyskensstraat 2

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De Expeditie Dok Noord 4F 25

Main partners

“There is no question about the musical pull of Ghent.

The International Flanders Festival Ghent continues to boost international talent year after year” – BBC Music Magazine

Official festival car

MEDIA PARTNERS

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Š Wouter Rawoens

See you next festival!

59th edition: 17 September > 1 October 2016 60th edition: anniversary edition September 2017

Contact us!

Kleine Gentstraat 46 - 9051 Ghent - Belgium T +32 (0)9 243 94 94 | ghent@festival.be Info & tickets: www.gentfestival.be

#gentfestival 28