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BelArts is a Brussels-based creative collective where musical heritage meets contemporary vision. We breathe 21st-century life into the echoes of the past, transforming rigorous historical research into immersive artistic experiences.
At the heart of our mission is the Coudenberg Sound Box Fest, a flagship initiative dedicated to reclaiming the lost sounds of the Coudenberg Palace (14th century – 1731). We bridge the gap between early music mastery and contemporary art, merging academic research with multidisciplinary innovation.
Beyond our avant-garde festival, BelArts redefines musical boundaries through high-end recordings, cinematic visuals, scholarly research, and immersive art installations.
We don't just perform the past; we evolve it for the audience of today.
coudenberg sound box fest
Since 2021
Celebrate Belgian heritage...
In a one-of-a-kind archaeological setting, the Coudenberg Palace, artists from Brussels and beyond converge to create an unforgettable sonic experience. From the 12th to the 18th century, Coudenberg Palace was the sumptuous residence of the Dukes of Burgundy, Emperor Charles V, and Archdukes Albert and Isabella, before being destroyed by fire in 1731. Today an immersive underground archaeological site, the Coudenberg hosts leading early music voice —such as Ricercar Consort, Il Gardellino, Scherzi Musicali, and Anthony Romaniuk—perform amidst the ruins of the heart of Europe, where history and modern artistry meet.
... way beyond classical music.
Where Early Music meets modern soundscapes: Artistic Director Matteo Gemolo bridges the musical heritage of the Southern Low Countries with jazz, folk, and electronics. He views Early Music as being from the past but not of the past—a contemporary expression that naturally engages with the diverse musical voices of our time. Our curated programming features boundary-pushing artists such as Ictus Ensemble (BE), SIGNUM Saxophone Quartet (DE), Sam Lee (UK), and Naomi Berrill (IE).
"Coudenberg Sound Box Fest shatters the barriers between 15th-century music and contemporary experimentation, harnessing the raw acoustics of these ruins that have seen it all (...) to reinvent the listening experience."
Camille Vernin, So Soir, November 2025
Exploring the intricate dialogue between music and society, the 2026 Coudenberg Sound Box Fest centers on the profound and a timely topic of "War and Peace."
From November to December, the archaeological site of the Coudenberg Palace transforms into a stage for reflection and resistance, featuring world-class artists such as InAlto, directed by Lambert Colson with Alice Foccroulle, the virtuoso percussion of AkroPercu, and the meditative oud compositions of Elias Bachoura. In a landmark collaboration with Bozar, the festival also introduces immersive "Above and Below" performances with ClubMédiéval and Dionysos Now!, bridging the palace's underground galleries with the soaring heights of the Coudenberg Church.
The program weaves a thread between historical memory and contemporary innovation, welcoming Ensemble Matica de Flor (winners of the 2025 NextGen competition) with their Sephardic traditions, and Ensemble Satellite, which explores the censored 20th-century voices of composers like Gideon Klein and Sofia Gubaidulina. The festival finale is entrusted to the experimental energy of the Belgian duo BeraadGeslagen (Fulco Ottervanger and Lander Gyselinck), bringing jazz and electronics into the heart of the creative process.
This edition marks a significant international expansion as the festival celebrates its new membership in REMA (European Early Music Network) and hosts a major academic symposium on music in conflict in partnership with ULB. The commitment to the future remains steadfast with the CSBF NextGen competition, featuring the world premiere of a new commission by Belgian composer Andreas Moulin. From the Sephardic traditions of Matica de Flor to the avant-garde jazz-electronics of BeraadGeslagen, the 2026 program invites audiences to rediscover history as a living, breathing force for cultural reconciliation.
Conferences, art installations & networking
Beyond the stage, CSBF continues to push the boundaries of musical heritage through immersive research and international cooperation. Highlights from 2025 included a high-level symposium on Brussels' musical history in collaboration with the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (KCB), and the debut of Cubiculum Musicae—an innovative, immersive installation exploring the sacred sounds of the Coudenberg Chapel, developed alongside the CNRS and RicercarLab.
A major milestone in late 2025 was the festival’s induction into REMA (the European Early Music Network).
Looking ahead, the 2026 edition will further bridge history and modernity. A new thematic conference organized with the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) will explore the profound and timely dialogue between "War and Peace"in musical history.
"An unforgettable evening, carrying the audience into 16th-century soundscapes with a bold, modern twist."
Emmiko Groenemeijer, Klassiek Centraal, december 2024
ReCoudenberg: Reenacting the Musical Life of a Royal Ghost
Launched in 2025, Re-Coudenberg is an ambitious interdisciplinary cycle merging rigorous research, creative performance, and artistic transmission. Conceived by Matteo Gemolo, Artistic Director of the CSBF, in collaboration with prestigious partner institutions—including the CRB and KCB conservatories, Bozar, the MIM, the Palais des Académies, Musique en Wallonie, the CNRS, and Ricercar Lab—this program aims to reconstruct and reactivate the musical practices of the lost Palace of Coudenberg.
The project will unfold through two symbolic milestones: the Bicentennial of Belgium in 2030 and the Tricentennial of the Great Fire of Coudenberg in 2031.
This long-term journey will be shared with the public through high-end recordings, scholarly publications, and immersive conferences. Beyond the stage, the initiative encompasses multidisciplinary art installations, educational outreach, and digital media, ensuring that the "musical ghost" of the palace resonates across diverse audiences and artistic borders.
Stay In Touch.
BelArts asbl/vzw
BE 1017.039.456
Rue de Woeringenstraat 15
1000 Brussels
Belgium
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