A pleasure?

Only a few days left to see "What did Brussels look like 50 years ago? .... Since 1977 this Brussels publishing house 'Plaizier'  has built up an image library including vintage postcards, prints, calendars and books. Architectural gems and urban transformations are all portrayed, together with items that illustrate the resolute path pursued by the publishing couple Wijnand and Mieke Plaizier. Their love for the Belgian capital is evident from every image".  
Baudelaire, on the other hand,  unequivocally voiced his thoughts about Belgium in a rather unflattering way. More on the Baudelaire exhibition in my next post.
http://www.bozar.be/en/activities/124394-brussels-is-a-plaizier

La Bartoli at Bozar in Brussels

  

"Bozar" refers to several artistic departments of the Beaux Arts museums in Brussels.  It is home to the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Société Philharmonique/Philharmonische Vereniging which invites the world's major orchestras and performers to appear in the Le Boeuf Hall, with its oval shape and interesting architecture.  The pictures were taken on the occasion of Cecilia Bartoli's concert a week ago.
http://www.bozar.be/activity.php?id=13316

Summer of photography

The Horta building which houses BOZAR (Beaux Arts) is worth a visit in itself for its architecture of course but as this summer's major photography exhibition is closing on September 16 -there is still time to visit- I am showing you a few ambiance shots. The aim of Sense of Place is to look beyond the obvious. "Landscape occupies a central position in the history of art in general and of photography in particular. How we see it today is affected by the ecological requirements of the post-industrial society. Concern for the future has led us to reconsider our individual relationships with the environment and to take a closer look at its place in our traditions and our history".

http://www.bozar.be/activity.php?id=11616&lng=en

Queen Elisabeth competition

Brussels was not only invaded by participants and spectators of the Zinneke parade last weekend, another cultural event of a totally different nature has taken over the city during the last few weeks. 
You know something important is going on when parking spots are blocked by police, a player of the National Orchestra is all dressed up to take a telephone call, people are running to get somewhere on time,   the info booth is manned with a knowledgeable young man and someone gets a lot of attention from the press.
For 75 years now, the prestigious Queen Elisabeth competition brings the best young musicians in a certain discipline to town. This year's competition is devoted to violin.
The musician with the telephone is orchestra member Bram Nolf who plays the oboe, the person being interviewed is the dad of the only Belgian participant in the competition, Marc Bouchkov.
http://www.cmireb.be/en/
http://www.bramnolf.be/nedl/biografie.php

Victor Horta Hall - Bozar

In my March 15 posting "Uptown to Downtown" I mentioned Bozar, housed in the Palais des Beaux Arts, home to music, art exhibitions, theater and much more. It is an important center in the cultural life of the capital.  Built in the 1920's in the art deco period, it was designed by the famous architect Victor Horta, who was commissioned to design a building that would make art accessible to the public.  One of the challenges he faced was that the building could not block the view from the Royal Palace to the lower city, so much of it is underground. In the first photo is the main hall with its wonderful sky light.  At the back of the hall, shown in the second photo, is the magnificent staircase that leads visitors to the exhibitions.  Bozar is hosting a major Luc Tuymans retrospective until May 8.

Uptown to downtown

Galerie Ravenstein is a covered arcade with an impressive staircase and skylight, with shops on both sides of the wide middle walkway. It connects uptown to Central Station and downtown.  The Galerie was designed in the 1950s by Alexis and Philippe Dumont.

At the left, the façade of Bozar (from "Beaux Arts" or literally "beautiful arts", more on that later) and at the right the spire of the town hall.