Namur’s Grand Manège concert hall: Jazz, world and new music join new season classical music programme

The Grand Manège in Namur has unveiled its new concert season, embracing jazz, world and contemporary music, in addition to its world-class classical music repertoire.

Some 82 concerts are programmed for 2025-26 with a stimulating and eclectic mix of musical sounds performed by a stellar line-up of homegrown and international talent

Inaugurated in 2021, the 800-seat space is rapidly earning a reputation as one of the top concert halls in Europe. Its crystal clear acoustics are perfect for recording, while musicians and ensembles appreciate the intimacy and conviviality of the complex that incorporates the city’s music conservatory.

The Grand Manège, dating from 1856, was originally a military training school for horses and riders. It underwent major renovation to transform the atmospheric red-brick heritage building into a state-of-the art music facility. 

Namur is not only the capital of Wallonia, it is a reputed centre for choral music. The concert hall is run by the CaV&Ma (Centre for Vocal Art and Early Music), which also oversees the activities of the Namur Chamber Choir.

The latter is directed by Geneva-based Argentinian conductor Leonardo García Alarcón (pictured above), an internationally-recognised musician and Baroque music specialist. For CAV&MA director and Namur Chamber Choir chorister Jean-Marie Marchal, Alarcón possesses an infectious and magnetic energy.

The upcoming programme includes three new productions under the baton of the charismatic conductor: Handel's Acis & Galatea in its large-scale 1718 version on 10 October, a 1737 concert version of Rameau's Castor & Pollux on 10 April and a special evening dedicated to the music of Baroque Rome on 26 June. They all feature Alarcon’s own ensemble, the Cappella Mediterranea.

Other early music productions such as Purcell's Ode to Saint Cecilia on 22 November and Marc'Antonio Ziani’s Easter oratorio La Morte Vita on 1 April are performed by similarly notable ensembles. The programme is similarly dotted with seasonal concerts, including a special Christmas performance of a Handel Messiah with children's choirs on 18 December, followed by a Winter Solstice concert with the Hathor Consort on 20 December.

The venue’s diverse programming extends to a series of piano recitals with Julien Brocal, as well as Frank Braley and Eric le Sage (pictured above), who are familiar faces at the concert hall, while Russian-born Belgian Irina Lankova and New York pianist Einav Yarden are set to make their first appearance in Namur.

Alongside chamber music recitals, symphony orchestras from Brussels, Liège and Metz perform popular works by composer’s such as Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Bruckner, Vivaldi and Mahler.

Meanwhile, a series of organ concerts is staged in the city’s baroque church Saint-Loup (pictured above); an intimate and atmospheric space in the city-centre boasting two newly-restored organs.

A new addition to the programme is a week-long focus on new music in a series of lunchtime concerts from 9 to 14 March. The launch of jazz concerts includes the Stéphane Belmondo-Pascal Mohy duo on 12 December and vocalist Naima Joris performing with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra on 28 February. The latter will take advantage of the exceptional acoustics to record a new album on site.

For the venture into world music, The Naghash Ensemble from Armenia performs lyrical chants from the 15th century on 4 December, while the Ensemble Vedado delivers traditional sounds and early music from Latin America on 11 February.

An important strand in the Grand Manège’s programme is the delightful Natines family workshops. They are staged monthly on Sundays for babies, children and parents, while musical initiation sessions are designed for older children one Wednesday afternoon a month. 

Before the new programme kicks off in September, classical music fans can enjoy the tail end of the current season, as well as the upcoming 62nd edition of the Festival Music of Namur from 27 June to 12 July. It includes a concert by the three laureates of the 2025 Queen Elisabeth Competition on 28 June.

Concert tickets are priced from €6 to €58 with discounts available when purchasing season passes for four concerts or more.

Grand Manège
Rue Rogier 82
Namur

Photos: (main image) Jazz - Minor Sing Django@Alexandra Syskova; ©Lino Bennardo and Gabriel Balaguera; Leonardo Garcia Alarcon ©Gabriel Balaguera;  Piano Recitals Eric le Sage and Frank Braley w Eric Su Frank ©Gabriel Balaguera; Organ Recitals St Loup Scherzi Musicali STL©Gabriel Balaguera; Natines Forêts Paisibles ©Olivier Calicis