History of the Musicorum Festival and its aims
A note on the change of name
The Musicorum Festival takes over all the activities of the Festival des Minimes at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. This avoids any confusion with another festival active nearby. The Centre d’Oeuvres de Merode is responsible for it.
The Musicorum Festival is a classical music festival presenting concerts on working days in July and August.
The Festival des Minimes will now only run musical activities at the Minimes church from January to December, except in July and August.
1 – History
In the summer of 1982, Father Jacques Van der Biest, parish priest of the Minimes, travelled to Stockholm by sleeper train, purely as a tourist. On arrival, travellers and tourists were welcomed by students of the local Conservatory, who offered free lunchtime concerts in the cathedral. The principle was simple: a beautiful church, short performances, and young talents offering their services across a very wide range of music from every era, place and genre… In short, a wonderful moment of musical relaxation in the middle of a busy day.
A great music lover, Father Van der Biest was so taken with the idea that he was determined to create an identical festival in Brussels, in his Minimes church. Putting it into practice required a serious organisation, as the workload was too great for one man. It was only in 1986 that, with the help of collaborators, he brought the concept to life here. For almost 29 years, every summer, the church has offered these lunchtime concerts to music lovers.
In May 2012, the Centre d’Œuvres de Merode, in which Father Jacques VAN DER BIEST played a major role, took over the running of the festival in the Minimes church. Tigran MAYTESIAN was responsible for its artistic direction.
In January 2016, artistic responsibility was entrusted to Jacques VANHERENTHALS.
In July 2018, the Festival des Minimes left the Minimes church for the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
In 2019, an artistic committee took over the artistic direction of the festival. Its members are Pierre DUBUISSON, Eliane REYES, Yannick VAN DE VELDE and Jean-Claude VANDEN EYDEN.
The Festival Musicorum trademark was registered in January and the festival took the name Festival Musicorum.
In 2023, the festival continues with Eliane REYES, Yannick VAN DE VELDE and Jean-Claude VANDEN EYDEN.
2 – The festival’s three aims
Free admission to the concerts is essential, as it opens classical music to everyone, of every background, faith and culture. Above all, free admission demands high quality in both the music and the musicians.
Young virtuoso musicians from Belgium and abroad, graduating with distinction from the best conservatories, can perform in a magnificent setting. It is an opportunity for them to make themselves known and to practise their art within a festival. What is more, the festival also welcomes stars of classical music, giving young musicians the chance to measure themselves against them.
Audiences can admire their work and support them, enjoying music of the highest quality in the brand-new hall of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.