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Classical Encounters

Classical Music in a 16th-Century Historical Monastery.
Forget the dusty concert halls and stiff formalities. With Classical Encounters, we're giving classical music a fresh, accessible platform. The club space in the historic Falcontinnenklooster will be transformed into a serene and atmospheric setting that breathes the quiet contemplation of the monastery itself. It will be a modern, intimate dialogue between timeless music, captivating stories, and stunning visuals. 
The Art of Connection: From Story to Sound
The venue will act as an intimate listening room with approximately 150 seats, offering a unique opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the music. The location, steeped in history and silence, allows for a truly unique and focused listening experience. Before the concerts start, we will showcase striking visuals, diving into the world of the composers and their masterpieces. This is your chance to be fully immersed in the context of the music before a single note is played. Following this unique introduction, top-tier musicians will take you on an unforgettable musical adventure. The concert itself consists of two 30-minute sets, presenting the essence of classical music in a surprising and approachable way, separated by a 10-minute intermission.
The Quiet Power of Sound
Our goal with this initiative is clear: by giving classical concerts a contemporary twist. We want to show you that the most impactful musical moments often begin with a whisper, not a shout. These nights are designed for both longtime lovers of classical music and newcomers open to new sonic discoveries. With the support of District Antwerpen. Practical information: 7:00 PM – Doors open7:15 PM – Film screening (Evil Penguins)7:45 PM – Introduction8:00 PM – Concert8:30 PM – 10-minute break8:40 PM – Concert9:10 PM (approx.) – End of program; music continues until 10:00 PM
Upcoming dates and line-up:
September 9, 2025:midnight.moonlight.madness The moon captivates as a symbol of night, love, and longing. This program honors it in all its forms: mysterious, emotional, and sometimes a little mad. The music ranges from the challenging sounds of Schönberg and Saariaho to the romanticism of Schumann, Mahler, and Strauss, with each piece exploring a different aspect. The highlight is Dvořák's epic aria, “Song to the Moon,” where desire and enchantment merge. Performers:Belgian soprano Elise Caluwaerts is known for her expressive performances and versatile repertoire, from baroque to contemporary music. Russian-American violinist Lev Adamov's warm tone and captivating phrasing resonate with every note. His repertoire spans from romantic to challenging contemporary works. Pianist Monika Dars is a versatile musician, moving between intimate chamber music and virtuosic solo repertoire. Her playing is characterized by a rich sound, a lyrical approach, and a sensitivity for collaboration.  CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS  October 14, 2025:Haroun Iqbal Solo Haroun Iqbal is a Belgian guitarist and composer with a diverse musical background in jazz, classical music, and the Indian Raga tradition. In 2019, he was introduced to the rich classical music of West Africa, influenced by masters like Ballaké Sissoko and Toumani Diabaté. His collaboration with the Senegalese kora player Bao Sisokko led to an intensive musical exploration.In his solo concerts, Haroun performs compositions from the oral griot tradition, Kora music, and his own works, in which he tastefully combines these influences with his unique guitar style. His ability to weave together different styles brought him to the attention of Klara, who selected him for De Twintigers in 2025. He also performs with his jazz quartet, Iqnovara. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS  November 13, 2025:K L A N G c o ll e c t i v e (DOWLNDRAKE - Official CD-Release) Soprano Annelies Van Gramberen and musical jack-of-all-trades Sim Van Thienen (guitar, keyboard, electronica) bring their individual fields of work into dialogue in this unique collaboration.D O W L N D R A K E is an adventurous musical journey that leads the audience to wander down dark paths to the obscure places of the human soul.Despite the four centuries that separate them, John Dowland (1563-1626) and Nick Drake (1948-1974) show striking similarities. Not only were both English composers, guitarists/lutenists, and singers/singer-songwriters, but their work is also steeped in the same recurring themes: pain, longing, and melancholy.The songs of these 'knights of melancholy' form the basis for a haunting musical trip. Annelies and Sim present them, sometimes beautifully recognizable, other times unraveled, dissected, and molded into new compositions. Vocal and instrumental loops, electronics, and an arsenal of guitars create a multi-layered soundscape against which Annelies brings the songs to life with her pure voice. The contrast between the tightly defined, modified artificiality of the electronics and the natural, organic quality of the classical singing voice and acoustic guitar creates a refreshing and surprisingly sonorous whole. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS  December 9, 2025:FOLD ME / BACK The immersive performance FOLD ME/BACK takes on a new form: distilled to its essence with one dancer, Giada Castioni, embodying music and movement in an intimate dialogue. The evening opens with a refined mini-concert by harpist Hanna Vandergoten and guitarist Laurens Mannaerts, bridging classical elegance and experimental impulse.Then the stage dissolves into the heightened sensorial world of the work conceived by Timo Tembuyser, where sound, voice and body converge in a poetic interplay of texture and form. This stripped-back version promises a concentrated experience of music, motion and transformation. Performers:Timo Tembuyser: VoiceNelleke Kuipers: VoiceHanna Vandergoten: HarpLaurens Mannaerts: GuitarGiada Castioni: Dance CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
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