Happening 2026
ANTWERP – On 28 March 2026, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra invites the public to Happening 2026: Eclipse at the Queen Elisabeth Hall. During this unique evening concert, Earth Hour becomes literally audible: as the hall gradually darkens, a rich musical and visual landscape unfolds, in which light, darkness, and silence form a shared experience.
Antwerp Symphony’s annual Happening combines music, visuals, and the experience of space. The atmosphere of the previous edition can be seen in this aftermovie.
A philosophical exploration of light and shadow
The evening concert explores the theme of 'Eclipse' with works that play with contrast, time, and expression. Thomas Larcher’s Time makes sound and silence decelerate and accelerate, Debussy’s Jeux subtly weaves music and movement together, and Luciano Berio’s Sequenza III, interpreted by mezzo-soprano Bella Adamova, explores the boundaries of the human voice.
Earth Hour coincides with the performance of Sequenza III. The moment is marked by a gradual dimming of the hall lights, allowing the audience to consciously experience the transition into darkness.
The highlight of the evening follows after the interval: the Benelux premiere of a reimagining of Wagner's Parsifal suite, reconstructed by Andrew Gourlay. For this performance, the orchestra is brought out of the pit and placed centrally on the concert stage, allowing the audience to experience the music from a close distance.
“With Happening 2026, we want to re-celebrate the essence of listening, experiencing, and being together. By literally weaving Earth Hour into the evening concert, we invite the audience to not only hear what is sounding, but also what is not. In that transition from light to dark — and vice versa — we discover new meaning, connection, and the pure power of music.”
From conversation to midnight
After the evening concert, conductor Pierre Bleuse and the participating artists will engage with the audience during an artist talk. In this discussion, they will reflect on themes such as time, silence, and the creative process behind the programme.
Afterwards, the introspective midnight concert The Blue Hour concludes the evening. In a historic space, the audience lies down to listen to mezzo-soprano Bella Adamova and concertmaster Lisanne Soeterbroek. Together, they perform a song cycle by five female composers, interwoven with poetry by Carolyn Forché.
Light art by Antoine Goldschmidt and video installations by David Claerbout run as a common thread throughout the evening, connecting music, visuals, and silence into a single sensory experience.
Practical Information
Date: 28 March 2026
Location: Queen Elisabeth Hall
Tickets & info: antwerpsymphony.be