Beethoven's Missa Solemnis

At the end of November 2018, Beethoven’s rarely performed Missa Solemnis was on the programme in Antwerp (deSingel), Berlin (Philharmonie) and Baden-Baden (Festspielhaus). It is hard to imagine a more appropriate time to programme this work than precisely 100 years after the end of World War I. 

Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis is one of his last and at the same time most monumental compositions. The original intention was to have the premier in March 1819 during the enthronement of archduke Rudolph, one of Beethoven’s main sponsors, as archbishop of Olmütz (Hungary). The composition was not ready on time, however, and acquired dimensions which made it no longer suitable for a performance during mass, as a result of which it can only be performed in the profane context of normal concert halls.  

Beethoven brought a universal message to humanity with this composition. The last part in particular, the Dona nobis pacem, has evolved into a long, through-composed call to peace. As such, it is ever so relevant today. It gives expression to people’s aspiration to live in peace with themselves and their environment, and inspires us all to strive for a better and peaceful world. It is hard to imagine a more appropriate time to programme this work than precisely 100 years after the end of World War I.  

The concert in Berlin was actually the closing concert of the WWI centennial commemoration day, in the presence of King Philip and Queen Mathilde, and a number of German dignitaries.  

To guarantee the exclusiveness and high quality of this production, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis was performed in cooperation with the famous Vienna-based Arnold Schoenberg Choir and an excellent selection of international soloists.

ORCHESTRA

Le Concert Olympique, Jan Caeyers, conductor
in cooperation with the Vienna-based Arnold Schoenberg Choir

SOLOISTS

Malin Hartelius, Soprano
Dame Sarah Connolly, Mezzosoprano
Steve Davislim, Tenor
Hanno Müller-Brachmann, Bass


Beethoven's Missa Solemnis

Call for peace - Ninth Symphony

On 13 May 2024 in Antwerp, Le Concert Olympique, pianist Kit Armstrong and the Arnold Schoenberg Choir will perform Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in the Elisabethzaal in Antwerp. The official opening concert of Beethoven27, dedicated to a European 'Call for peace'.

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Cancellations concerts

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Premiere of new Ninth Symphony

In March 2020 Le Concert Olympique and Jan Caeyers had the great honor of performing the world premiere of the restored version of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Belgium.

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Beethoven Marathon in Antwerp

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This production in September 2019 placed the work of Beethoven in the perspective of two composers who he admired: Cherubini and Mozart. The soloist was the young pianist Mariam Batsashvili.

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Concert Tour with Melnikov

Central to the concert tour of February 2019 are two works by Beethoven that are closely related: the Fourth Piano Concerto and the Fifth Symphony. Soloist is the world-renowned pianist Melnikov.

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Stage Monologue & Septet

In November 2018 Jan Caeyers narrated seven scintillating stories about Beethoven. This stage monologue was musically interwoven with fragments from Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat major op. 20.

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Third Symphony & Piano Concerto

Between the overture and Beethoven’s Third Symphony French top-class pianist François-Frédéric Guy plays Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto. This concert was programmed in April 2018.

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Beethoven & Brahms

In February 2017, the world-famous violinist Viktoria Mullova played the immortally beautiful Violin Concerto in D by Brahms with Le Concert Olympique, conducted by Jan Caeyers.

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Curator Beethoven-Haus Bonn

Jan Caeyers was appointed curator at the Stiftung Beethoven-Haus Bonn on 20 May 2016. The main aim is to support the Beethoven-Haus Bonn in particular and the Beethoven culture in the broadest sense.

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Violin Concerto with Eberle

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Beethoven's Piano Concerti

After the successful tour with famous Beethoven pianist Till Fellner, the idea began to grow to organise a communal Beethoven cycle, spread out over 3 productions and 3 concert seasons.

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Beethoven evening in Bonn

On 1 September 2015, Jan Caeyers gave a lecture on Beethoven’s work at the behest of the German Federal President Joachim Gauck in his residence in Bonn.

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Concert: Magical Mass in C Major

A milestone in the orchestra’s existence was the performance in 2015 in Antwerp and Bruges of Beethoven’s Mass in C Major with the world-renowned Arnold Schoenberg Choir from Vienna.

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Concert: Eroica

In February 2015, Le Concert Olympique performed Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, the so-called Eroica. The soloist was the former Queen Elisabeth winner Frank Braley.

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Contract with Karsten Witt

In 2015 Le Concert Olympique has reached an agreement with the renowned Berlin management agency Karsten Witt Musik Management that will from now on represent the orchestra worldwide.

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Concert: A different Mozart

In November 2014, Le Concert Olympique performed Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, framed by Beethoven Symphonies Nr.1 and Nr.8 in Leuven, Hasselt, Antwerp and Rotterdam.

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Award The Gulden Spoor

The 10th of July 2014, Jan Caeyers was awarded the Gulden Spoor for Cultural Élan in Bruges (Belgium), an award for people who have left a memorable stamp on in Flemish cultural life.

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Mozart & Beethoven in Prague

In March 2014, Le Concert Olympique performed a series of concerts called ‘Mozart and Beethoven in Prague’ with soloists Lenneke Ruiten (soprano) and François-Frédéric Guy (piano).

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Beethoven book release in Vienna

Jan Caeyers presented the German translation of his book to a selected audience of Beethoven experts and enthusiasts in the Palais Lobkowitz in Vienna.

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Full house in Musikverein Vienna

On 26 November 2013, Le Concert Olympique performed to a full house in the world-renowned Musikverein in Vienna. The soloist was the Israeli pianist Boris Giltburg.

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