Flagey Piano Days in Brussels returns to showcase an eclectic program of piano music, spanning a wide variety of eras and styles and performed by artists of diverse backgrounds and ages.
Now in its 12th edition, the festival continues to solidify Flagey’s reputation as a European hub for piano music, welcoming renowned artists like Sir András Schiff, Angela Hewitt and Arcadi Volodos, alongside emerging young pianists.
With the Art Deco building’s exceptional acoustics and the festival’s inviting atmosphere, the event promises an engaging experience for both dedicated piano lovers and curious newcomers, who will enjoy a programme of beloved classics and shorter, more accessible performances.
The piano lends itself to every musical genre, period, feeling and style.
The Flagey Piano Days capture the piano’s remarkable versatility, diversity and curiosity across a wide range of compositions and performers.
Bringing together artists at different stages of their careers is at the heart of Flagey’s mission, presenting celebrated names of today alongside tomorrow’s stars.
Several internationally acclaimed artists will make their Flagey debut this year.
Sir András Schiff opens the festival with an ‘original, adventurous and imaginative’ programme inspired by the spontaneity of the moment (Feb 12, 20:15).
Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt will perform two contrasting Mozart piano concertos (Nos 15 and 24) (Feb 14, 20:15) with the Brussels Philharmonic conducted by Kazushi Ono in her first appearance at Studio 4 (Feb 14, 20:15).
The festival’s finale, on February 16th, will feature Hewitt performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 21 and Schubert’s Ninth Symphony (Feb 16, 19.00).
Renowned Russian pianist Arcadi Volodos, who is known for his unparalleled sensitivity to sound, will be playing Schubert’s 6 Moments musicaux and his Piano Sonata No. 20 (Feb 15, 20:15).
The Ukrainian-born Australian pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk joins the Orchestre Philarmonique Royal de Liège, conducted by their future music director Lionel Bringuier to perform Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto in C major (Feb 13, 20:15).
Flagey will also present new talents, such as Hungarian pianist Mihály Berecz, known for his versatility across different musical repertoires. He will play works by Haydn, Bartók, Debussy and Chopin (Feb 14, 12:30).
Acclaimed Russian pianist Roman Borisov moved to Berlin and studied at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule. He will offer an intuitive interpretation of Impromptus by Lowell Liebermann and Schubert, alongside Rachmaninov’s First Piano Sonata (14.02, 18:30).
Israeli pianist Yoav Levanon, the festival’s youngest performer at 20, brings his exceptional virtuosity (he debuted at Carnegie Hall at the age of 6!) with a performance of the chaconne from Bach/Busoni’s Partita No. 2, alongside Études by Liszt and Chopin (Feb 15, 18:30).
French pianist, Mirabelle Kajenjeri, who began her residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel this fall and praised for her ‘unique touch’ and mastery of complex techniques, will perform a recital inspired by nature, spirituality and emotions, blending well-known works by Ravel and Kreisler with the lesser-known repertoire of Marie Jaëll, the French pianist, composer and teacher.
Flagey also welcomes back familiar young artists. Belgian pianist Florian Noack, known both for his talent as a pianist and as an arranger and programmer, will perform Brahms’ 2 Rhapsodies, two sonatas by Scriabin and Ravel’s Gaspard de la Nuit (Feb 16, 15:00).
French pianist Élodie Vignon, supported by the Flagency programme, will play a selection from Debussy’s works and release a double album dedicated to the composer (Feb 13, 22:15).
