In this episode of OPERA Road Trip, host Sebastian F. Schwarz turns to Belgium—a country whose operatic culture emerged at the crossroads of Europe's great linguistic and political traditions. From the Habsburg courts of Brussels and the French influence on eighteenth-century musical life to the revolutionary atmosphere surrounding Belgian independence in 1830, the episode traces how opera became deeply interwoven with the cultural identity of the young nation.

At the centre of that story stands La Monnaie / De Munt—one of Europe's most influential opera houses and a leading force in contemporary music theatre today.

The episode features a conversation with Christina Scheppelmann and composer Iain Bell, whose opera Medusa recently received its world premiere in Brussels. Together, they discuss the realities of commissioning new operas in the twenty-first century, the collaboration between institutions and composers, and the importance of understanding the human voice not merely as a dramatic medium, but as one of the composer's central instruments.

Special thanks to Iain Bell, La Monnaie / De Munt and Palazzetto Bru Zane for their support and participation in this episode.

Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz who is Casting Director of Milan's Teatro alla Scala and whose curriculum as an opera manager includes CEO and Artistic Director and Administrator positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera.

All episodes: https://operavision.eu/features/opera-road-trip

Music extracts for this episode:

Introduction: Fidelio (Beethoven): Overture, op. 72

Ecerpts from Thésée (Francois-Joseph Gossec): Virginie Pochon, Les Agrémens, Chœur de Chambre de Namur, Guy van Waas

Ecerpts from the duet "De ton epoux voila donc le partage" from La Caravane de Caïre (André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry): Katia Velletaz, Cyrille Dubois, Les Agrémens, Guy van Waas

Ecerpt from the Ouverture from Medusa (Iain Bell): Marie-Nicole Lemieux, La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Michiel Delanghe

Excerpt from an Aria of Medusa from Medusa (Iain Bell): Claudia Boyle, La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra, Michiel Delanghe

Bonus Music:

Excerpt from a duet from Hulda (César Franck): Jennifer Holloway, Edgaras Montvidas, Orchestre Philhamonique Royal de Liège, Gergely Madaras

Link to the recorded catalogue of rediscovered works published by Palazzetto Bru Zane:

https://bru-zane.com/en/dischi/

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Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.