Page 300 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

298  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

ENTERTAINMENT
IN BELGIUM

In an understated manner, Belgium has a during summer, for the benefit of local
thriving cultural life, showcasing top-quality citizens. It is also for their entertainment
international and regional performers in that most Belgian bars encourage musicians,
all fields. The country has produced major while clubs and dance halls provide venues
talent, particularly in modern dance, film for more interactive fun. Among more
and in the contemporary arts scene. On a traditional attractions are the many vibrant
more communal level, town squares and carnivals, whose colourful pageants involve
parks host a variety of concerts, usually all levels of the society.

Listings Ballet Vlaanderen (see p139) and lished in Antwerp, but performs
Free listings for all forms of enter- La Monnaie in Brussels (see p92) across Belgium and internation-
tainment are available at the are both sump tuously elegant in ally. Dance per form ances feature
tourist offices, or in shops, hotels the traditional 18th-century style. in most theatres and concert
and bars. Agenda is one such tri- Ghent and Antwerp mount per- venues around the country.
lingual magazine. The Bulletin formances by the Flemish com-
has a purely online presence pany, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen,
(www.xpats.com) and provides while Liège is the home of the Classical Music
news, reviews and listings. Opéra Royal de Wallonie. Operas Very high standards of music
Likewise, leading news papers also take place in the main thea- are maintained by Belgium’s
(see p321) also carry event list ings. tres of Charleroi, Mons and Namur. leading music schools, such
There are several useful web- as the Conservatoire Royal
sites, notably xPats, Net Events de Musique in Brussels and the
and Visit Belgium, site of the Ballet and Dance Conservatoire Royal de Liège.
Belgian tourist office in the USA Contemporary dance is strong The capital has several important
and Canada. Cinema list ings can in Belgium and has had a huge concert halls (see p92), but all
be found online at Cinebel and international impact. Among major cities have their
Cinenews. Jazz details are availa- its leaders is Anna Teresa de equivalents. One to look out
ble at Jazz in Belgium, while rock Keersmaeker and her Rosas for is the extremely modern
and pop concert information is company (see p92). Charleroi/ Concertgebouw in Bruges.
given at the Music in Belgium Danses is the company of the The Salle Philharmonique de
site. Club and disco listings can be Centre Chorégraphique de Liège, former concert hall of the
found at Noctis and Dance Vibes. la Communauté Française Conservatoire, is now operated
Wallonie-Bruxelles. Directed by the Philharmonic Orchestra
by Michèle Anne de Mey and of Liège. Concerts are also held
Opera others, it performs at Les Écuries at the splendid Art Deco Le
Belgium has four major opera in Charleroi, and at La Raffinerie Forum. Classical and other
houses – in Antwerp, Brussels, in Brussels. The world-renowned types of music are performed
Ghent and Liège. The Opera Royal Ballet of Flanders is estab- at both Koningin Elisabethzaal

A spirited performance of the popular classical Swan Lake ballet by the Royal Ballet of Flanders

298-299_EW_Belgium.indd 298 18/10/16 3:03 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm