On March 27, 2026, the Belgian National Orchestra is set to perform Luc Brewaeys’ Symphony No. 8 at the Palais des Beaux-Arts (BOZAR) in Brussels. This performance is part of the “Fasten Seat Belts! Celebrating Luc Brewaeys” festival, commemorating the tenth anniversary of the composer’s passing. The concert will be conducted by Otto Tausk and will also feature works by Jonathan Harvey and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Luc Brewaeys, a prominent Belgian composer, was known for his unique approach to spectralism, emphasizing dynamic melodic lines and vibrant orchestral textures. His Symphony No. 8, commissioned by the Ars Musica festival in 2004, remained incomplete at the time of his death in 2015. The symphony was dedicated to his friend, jazz and wind music producer Miel Van Attenhoven. The first two movements premiered in 2004, with a subsequent performance in 2010 that included a third movement. The final movement was left unfinished.
In 2025, composer Annelies Van Parys, a close associate and former student of Brewaeys, completed the fourth movement of the symphony. She approached the task with a deep respect for Brewaeys’ original sketches, drawing inspiration from the Japanese art of kintsugi—a technique that repairs broken pottery with gold lacquer, highlighting the fractures rather than concealing them. Van Parys aimed to create a seamless yet distinct addition that honors Brewaeys’ style while introducing her own artistic voice.
The upcoming performance of the fully realized Symphony No. 8 offers audiences a comprehensive experience of Brewaeys’ final symphonic work. The program also includes Jonathan Harvey’s “80 Breaths for Tokyo” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8, providing a diverse musical journey that bridges contemporary and classical compositions. This concert serves as a significant tribute to Brewaeys’ enduring influence on the Belgian and international music scenes.
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