7 April 1923. At the Beethoven Hall in Antwerp, a select audience of curious music lovers gathers for an evening of ‘modern music’. Among them: the poet Paul van Ostaijen.

Van Ostaijen’s poetry is full of music: songs, operettas, charlestons, tangos, jazz. He describes his world with its own soundtrack. As it turns out, his ideas on art also inspired a group of young, modern composers.

In this performance, we take you back in time, to the Antwerp of the early 1920s. A group of young artists is experimenting lavishly with new forms and new sounds. We immerse you in the images, words and sounds that wanted to change the world.

With music by: August Baeyens, Karel Albert, E.L.T. Mesens, Denise Tolkowsky, Lode Vets, Daniël Ruyneman

Piano: Lies Colman
Vocals: Pauline Lebbe
Concept and narration: Matthijs de Ridder and Isabel Voets