Coudenberg Sound Box Fest: The music festival under the Place Royale

The Coudenberg Sound Box Fest, curated by Italian flutist and doctor of music performance Dr Matteo Gemolo, is a meeting point for music and history. From 24 November to 15 December, artists from Belgium and beyond will enchant this unique archaeological site in the heart of Brussels with different styles of music.

Located underneath the Place Royale of Brussels, the Coudenberg Palace, was the residence of Charles V and many other powerful rulers between the 12^th and 18^th centuries until it was consumed by a terrible fire. Today, however, these ruins constitute a fascinating archaeological site incorporating a network of underground passages and chambers that you can visit on a regular basis via its entrance in Belvue Museum.

For this fourth edition, the festival celebrates consort music with four double concerts. The term ‘consort’ originates from 16th and 17th century England and refers to an ensemble of instruments, either from the same family (‘whole consort’) or from different families (‘broken consort’).

The programme of CSFB24 ranges from music from Shakespeare’s time to modern American sounds by composers such as Leonard Bernstein and Viet Cuong. Listeners can enjoy French baroque music by Jean de Sainte-Colombe and classics such as Bach’s Goldberg Variations and Satie’s Gymnopédies, reinterpreted by innovative artists. Check out the programme below: 

Sun 24 Nov 18h30: PERPETUUM – The eternal quest for authentic sound Anthony Romaniuk (AU) + Traffik Klassik (BE) Music by J. S. Bach, H. Purcell, E. Satie, improvisations et al. 

Sun 1 Dec 18h30: BOUND TO NOTHING – Conversation with good Folk Sam Lee (UK) & Noxwode (UK) Music by W. Byrd, J. Dowland, C. Gricmanis, S. Lee et al.

Sun 8 Dec 18h30: CHAMELEON – Masters of disguise SIGNUM Saxophone Quartet (DE) & Ensemble Vibrations (BE) Music by L. Bernstein, V. Cuong, G. P. Telemann, M. De Splenter et al.

Sun 15 Dec 18:30 ETERNAL RETURN – Between attraction and repulsion Ictus (Eva Reiter and Geert de Bièvre) (BE) & Delle Donne Consort (BE) Music by L. Berio, J. de Sainte-Colombe, J. de Prez, E. Reiter, C. de Rore.

This is a special occasion to combine architecture, heritage and music in a unique location that you can visit during the pause between acts.   

Location: Coudenberg Palace, Place des Palais, 7, Brussels. Info and tickets.