This concert is fundamentally different from previous performances of Tan Dun's Water Concerto, offering a total experience in which music, space and ecology come together. Interescaut's turbine hall becomes not just another concert venue, but an active part of the dramaturgy and scenography. Director Benoit de Leersnyder and festival dramaturge Jan Van den Bossche are working closely together to give this production a completely unique interpretation, away from the traditional concert setting in which the work is usually presented.
duration concert → 1h 10min
concert without intermission
Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884)
Moldau
Tan Dun (°1957)
Water Concerto
Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)
Four Sea Interludes
Central to the programme is Water Concerto, but the thematic line is further deepened with Smetana's Moldau and Britten's Four Sea Interludes, giving the concert as a whole a stronger narrative and musical coherence. Benoit de Leersnyder's direction plays a crucial role in this. He works closely with Jan Van den Bossche and together they transform the turbine hall into a fully-fledged scenographic element. This goes far beyond a classical concert setting and creates a unique interaction between space, light and music. The industrial architecture and the proximity of the Scheldt are not used purely as scenery, but are an integral part of the dramaturgy, allowing the audience to experience the power of water in a physical and sensory way.
In addition, this performance is distinguished by the sustainable use of water within the performance itself. Instead of tap water, Scheldt water is piped via a circular system to the basins, which are played as percussion instruments. This water is purified by Aquafin, and the purification process is shown through a film. As a symbolic conclusion, the purified water is even offered to the public as drinking water and lemonade (‘riolimo’). This interaction with water goes one step further: at the start of the concert, the audience is invited to carry purified Scheldt water itself to the basins in a ceremonial procession led by Tan Dun. Thus, the ecological message is experienced not only aurally but also physically and ritually.
Thanks to the intensive cooperation between Benoit de Leersnyder and Jan Van den Bossche, this concert transcends the traditional performance and becomes an interdisciplinary project in which music, spatial dramaturgy and environmental awareness merge. This makes it substantially different from regular performances of Water Concerto in classical concert halls and places it within STROOM's innovative artistic lineage.
