FESTIVAL MOZART
Waterloo International Chamber Music Festival
Waterloo / Belgium - Nagakute / Japan

The next Festival Mozart in Waterloo will be held in Sept 13-15, 2024 !
 

After a hiatus forced by the pandemic, the 26th edition of the Mozart Festival, now also known as the Waterloo International Chamber Music Festival, is ready to be reborn under the banner of renewal. This event, which successfully expanded to Japan during this period of pause, returns to its roots this year, promising a unique and vibrant musical experience in Waterloo.

The festival's performances resonated as far as the Land of the Rising Sun, where it was warmly welcomed by the cities of Nagakute, Yokohama, and Tokyo, under the patronage of the Embassy of Belgium and its ambassador, Antoine Evrard. These cultural exchanges not only allowed the Mozart Festival to enhance its international presence but also to forge new connections for the years to come.
 

Today, with renewed energy, the festival returns to Waterloo, ready to captivate its audience with a rich and diverse program. A team of twelve internationally renowned musicians will be in residence for five days, with a program focused on themes as varied as dance, fantasies, homeland, as well as the anniversaries of sometimes little-known composers celebrated in 2024.

For the first time, we will have the honor of welcoming English violinist Daniel Rowland and German violist Ulrich Eichenauer, currently residing in the United States. We are also delighted to welcome back, after twenty years, the American pianist based in Paris, David Lively, as well as cellist Maja Bogdanovic and pianist Henri Bonami, returning for their second participation. The festival will also highlight the new generation of musicians through the Young Artists Program, while hosting the composer and pianist from Waterloo of Turkish origin, Muhiddin Dürrüoglu, in residence. He will be returning for the first time since 2008 to share, among other things, some of his works.
 

This edition also stands out for its intention to refocus the festival on the heart of Waterloo. The concerts will take place for the first time in iconic venues such as the Wellington Museum and the Stables, just a few minutes' walk from each other, thus strengthening the bond between the festival and the local community.
 

I would like to express my gratitude to the administration of the city of Waterloo and its cultural alderwoman for their support, which allows us to relaunch this festival under new and optimal conditions. This 2024 edition marks the beginning of a new era for the Mozart Festival, and we look forward to sharing unforgettable musical moments with you, both in Waterloo and in Nagakute during future editions.
 

Long live music, long live this rebirth we are celebrating together!

Daniel Rubenstein
Artistic Director of the Festival Mozart