The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra performs Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Brussels

Saint-Saëns wrote his Fifth Piano Concerto whilst travelling through Egypt. The exotic sounds and rhythms of the music resonate throughout this lively and surprising work. You’ll feel as though you’re on a boat trip down the Nile, with ancient temples passing by and the rowers singing their traditional songs. The solo part is performed by the French pianist Kojiro Okada, who was already performing in major Parisian concert halls at a young age. He is affiliated with the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel as a pianist and artistic collaborator and made his debut at the Concertgebouw in 2024.

Beethoven’s Ninth: an ode to togetherness

After the interval comes Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony , one of the best-known works in classical music. In the final movement, Beethoven adds four soloists and a large choir to the orchestra. Beethoven’s Ninth is a powerful ode to unity and joy, its most famous moment being the choral melody at the end of the symphony, based on Ode to Joy by the German poet Friedrich Schiller. It is no coincidence that this melody by Beethoven was chosen as the anthem of the European Union.

The large choir is made up of singers from Octopus and – fittingly! – the Choeurs de l’Union européenne. The Belgian soprano Lisa Willems, the Ukrainian mezzo-soprano Sofia Anisimova, the French tenor François Pardailhé and the bass-baritone Oleg Volkov will perform the solo parts. All four are associated with the musical tradition of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and have experience in both opera and concert repertoire.

Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel Festival

In 2026, the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel Festival will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Queen Elisabeth’s birth. In keeping with its rich musical tradition, the Music Chapel presents a programme ranging from the intimacy of chamber music to monumental symphonic works. An invitation to follow in the Queen’s footsteps and embark on a journey through music history.