Belgian National Orchestra & Feddeck

Impress your date or bring friends and colleagues for a unique afterwork at the very first Symphonic Date, a brand-new concert format, perfect for taking your first steps into the world of classical music. In just one hour, Thomas Vanderveken introduces you to a great symphonic masterpiece, revealing its secrets in a short and engaging introduction (in English, with surtitles in French and Dutch). For this first edition, dive with wit and charm into Dvořák’s beloved Ninth Symphony, "From the New World".

Dvořák composed this symphony in 1892, during his tenure as director of the National Conservatory of Music of America. This unique institution in the United States promoted music education for all, including women and people of color—a rarity in the post-Civil War era. During this time, Dvořák had the opportunity to hear artists such as Harry Burleigh, a Black baritone and composer, who introduced him to spirituals. Inspired by these melodies, Dvořák crafted the powerful and lyrical themes of his Ninth Symphony, which would become one of the greatest successes of his career.