Belgian National Orchestra & Richard Egarr

Impress your date or bring friends and colleagues for a unique afterwork at 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 edition, dive with wit and charm into Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony.

Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony is arguably one of the most influential works in music history, alongside his Fifth Symphony. In fact, both were premiered on the same evening, each offering a distinct perspective on music. While the Fifth focuses on musical material itself and the abstraction that emerges from it, the Sixth tells a story, explicitly outlined in the titles of its movements. In this work, programmatic narrative takes precedence over formal conventions. Beethoven allows himself creative freedoms that would gradually redefine the boundaries of the symphonic genre. In this Symphonic Date, presenter Thomas Vanderveken invites you to explore what makes this symphony so remarkable.