Page 301 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

ENTER T AINMENT IN BEL GIUM  299

Belvaux (Man Bites Dog, 1992),
Alain Berliner (Ma Vie en Rose,
1997), Luc and Jean-Pierre
Dardenne (Rosetta, 1999),
Dominique Deruddere
(Everybody’s Famous!, 2000),
Nic Balthazar (BenX, 2007) and
Gérard Corbiau (Farinelli, 1999).
Actors Jean-Claude Van
Jazz troupe jamming on stage during a jazz festival outside Brussels Damme and Audrey Hepburn
were born in Brussels.
and the modern multi-purpose Jazz Most international films
deSingel in Antwerp. Likewise, Belgium’s lively jazz scene shown are, of course, usually in
it is fea tured at key venues in features home-grown talent their original versions. If neither
smaller cities such as the Palais playing in European, New dubbed nor subtitled, they are
des Beaux Arts in Charleroi. Orleans, contemporary and listed as VO (version originale) or
The biggest music event in fusion styles. The great jazz OV (originele versie). “VO st-bil”
Belgium is the Festival of guitarist Django Reinhardt or “OV Fr/NL ot” indicate a sub-
Flanders (June–December). (1910–53) was born here, titled ver sion. There are cine-
Classical concerts, plus ballet and so was Toots Thielemans mas of all kinds, from small
and opera, are performed in (b.1922), hailed as the world’s enter prises to huge multi-
historic houses, churches and best jazz harmonica player. plexes. Belgium also hosts
halls. The Festival de Wallonie In Antwerp, the Jazzcafé small, spe cialist film festivals,
(June–October) is the southern Hopper and De Muze, an with the Flanders Film Festival
equi valent of this event. easy-going place with live (see p38) in Ghent being the
jazz every night, are excel lent. best known.
Antwerp’s highly respected
Rock, Pop and biennial festival, the Jazz
World Music Middelheim, has attracted Theatre
Belgium is in the middle of the top international names since There are plenty of fine theatres
European tour map for top inter- 1969. Equally star-studded is in Belgium, with most plays
national artists, rock, pop and the annual countrywide staged in either French or
world music bands. Fans cross Skoda Jazz Festival, from Dutch. Many theatres feature
borders to take advantage of October to December. Brussels mixed pro gram mes of theatre,
cheap tickets and better venues. holds an annual Jazz Marathon dance and music. The Bruges
The biggest concerts take place (see p92). In Ghent, a must-visit Stadsschouwburg hosts a
in Brussels (see pp92–3) or at the is the Art Nouveau Damberd blend of theatre, dance and
Lotto Arena (Sportspaleis) in Jazz Café, which has live music concerts, while the Antwerp
Antwerp and some at local venues on Tuesdays. The folksy Hotsy Stadsschouwburg is domin-
such as Hasselt’s Muziekodroom. Totsy café is also popular. ated by musicals. The Bourla
Belgium’s summer outdoor rock Bruges’s De Werf is an eagerly Schouwburg, also in Antwerp,
festivals also attract great attended jazz venue. maintains a fine programme of
international attention. They plays performed mainly by its
frontline with the current top Toneelhuis reper tory com pany.
international acts, and, cost-wise, Cinema Antwerp’s multi-purpose concert
are considered a bargain. The The film industry in Belgium hall deSingel also runs a highly
best known is Rock Werchter, is quite active, with noted respected theatre programme.
which takes place close to Leuven directors whose works win Other noted theatres include
in early July. The mid-July Dour international attention and Théâtre Royal de Mons and
Festival, near Mons, is making awards. These include Jaco van Théâtre de Namur. The capital
a name for its techno-oriented Dormael (Toto the Hero, 1991; also has many venues of note
fare. In June, Couleur Café brings The Eighth Day, 1996), Rémy for theatre (see p93).
the best of African and South
American music to the heart of
Brussels. Pukkelpop takes place
in Hasselt in late August and
attracts imp res sive line-ups.
Bruges holds the res pected but
low-key Cactusfestival (see p37)
as well as Moods!, a low-cost
series of concerts held in July and
August. Fans of contemporary
French singer-songwriters attend
the Francofolies de Spa in July. Bright lights and energetic crowds at the Pukkelpop rock festival in Hasselt

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