The Penultimate Carnival of the Animals
Camille Saint-Saëns, Jeroen Olyslaegers and Other Species
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Important changes
The performance The Penultimate Carnaval of the Animals on Saturday has been moved to a new venue
Due to the forecast of extreme weather conditions and in consultation with the emergency services of Merelbeke-Melle, we have decided to relocate the performance indoors. De Loods, the event hall in Merelbeke-Melle, offers a cooler environment where we can fully enjoy the performance.
In The Carnaval of the Animals, the funniest work in classical music, composer Camille Saint-Saëns lets a colourful parade of animals pass by, from the lumbering elephant to the sluggish tortoise. At our request, five young composers from Belgium and the Netherlands each added an animal to the collection. The otter, the black grouse, the eel and the coral each struggle with climate change in their own way. But the jellyfish actually thrives. For this 'penultimate' Carnival of the Animals, festival thinker Jeroen Olyslaegers wrote a new text and puts on the top hat of the circus ringmaster to introduce the various animals to the audience himself.
A coproduction of Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen, Wonderfeel (NL) and STROOM
Programme
Programme
- Camille Saint-Saens – The Carnival of the Animals
- Murielle Lemay – Otter (world premiere)
- Sílvia Lanao – Black Grouse (world premiere)
- Linde Huygens – Coral (world premiere)
- Mehmet İlhan Gazioğlu – Eel (world premiere)
- Matthias Spee – Jellyfish (world premiere)
- Jeroen Olyslaegers, text
Performers
- Musicians of Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen
- Pavel Kolesnikov, piano
- Samson Tsoy, piano
- Jeroen Olyslaegers, text and performance
- Mareille Labohm, stage direction
Science
Chinese mitten crabs vs. native species. The University of Antwerp explains.
Did you know that the Chinese mitten crab poses a silent threat to the Scheldt river? This invasive species disrupts the balance of both fauna and flora: it burrows into riverbanks, displaces native animals, and can cause significant damage to the ecosystem.
Scientists from the University of Antwerp have been studying this unusual species for years, and during STROOM you’ll have the chance to observe them up close. Before diving into a musical performance about native endangered species, you can attend a short and engaging talk about the mitten crab. How did this species end up here, and what impact does it have on our natural environment?
Definitely worth arriving at the concert location a bit earlier and letting yourself be surprised by this fascinating glimpse into the underwater world of the Scheldt river.
You can view the aquariums containing live Chinese mitten crabs at the concert venue. No advance booking is required. You are welcome to visit the stand at any time to listen to the presentation.
Practical
Address De Loods, Fraterstraat 109a, 9820 Merelbeke-Melle
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Timing first concert
15:00 Doors open. Enjoy a drink in the bar before and after the concert.
16:00 Start concert
17:15 Expected end time
18:15 The bar closes
Timing second concert
19:30 Doors open. Enjoy a drink in the bar before and after the concert.
20:30 Start concert
21:45 Expected end time
22:45 The bar closes
Language
Knowledge of Dutch is recommended.
Accessibility
More information about accessibility can be found on our accessibility page, or feel free to contact us via toegankelijkheid@festival.be or by phone (09 243 94 94).
If you are attending the festival in a wheelchair, please contact us. We will help find a suitable (mobility) route and ensure an appropriate place during the concert.
Ticketprijs
Standard 35 euros
UiTPAS with a reduction rate Tickets Gent
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