We are very happy to welcome you to the fifth edition of this concert as part of the greater Darklands festival in this fabulous and historic concert venue, AMUZ.

As we are living in times of growing polarization, the value of an event like Beyond Classic/Darklands cannot be overestimated. We are bringing people together with different backgrounds, interests, philosophies etc..  curious to meet and get to know each other, open to be surprised.  In contrast to dividing people into categories, we believe in the inspirational power of connecting and sharing passion and expression. This evening, all our artists will subscribe to  and communicate  this message, using the language of music and dance. A very big thank you to all of them, as they are doing this for free to endorse the charity initiatives we support. 

Black is the most important colour in the fetish scene. Whether rough leather or shiny latex skin, rubber or iron – there are countless dimensions and shades of the black colour that inspire us today. In baroque times it was no different, the colour black had many meanings, of which the dark, threatening, even abysmal evil is only one facet. Black was also the mourning and melancholy associated especially with artistic people, and of course the night and its temptations.

In their new show, Fetish Baroque presents the many exciting variations of black and has brought along three world stars of opera and modern dance. Dietrich Henschel, Grammy winner and partner of conducting legends such as Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Philippe Herreweghe and John-Eliot Gardiner, is a master of creating abysmal characters on the opera stage. He sings three of the most beautiful arias by Purcell, Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach. Susanne Elmark, soprano from Copenhagen, inspires audiences in opera houses around the world with her emotional strength and also champions queer issues on stage. Finally, the Antwerp native Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is one of the most important choreographers of our time, having choreographed for Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Beyoncé, Cirque du Soleil, on Broadway etc… He offers us a new choreography creation to add expression to one of Bach’s powerful arias, performed by Morgan Lugo, a dancer of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen.

And after last year’s great success, Antwerp singer-songwriter Gregory Frateur will be back again, performing his very contemporary music together with period instruments. Finally, there will be a reunion with the acrobat Didac Cano from Barcelona, who will put his tattooed and pierced body entirely at the service of the search for the power of the colour black.